By EVAN MEYER
CLEVELAND – The Toledo Rockets opened a three-game road trip Saturday afternoon by defeating the Cleveland State Vikings 77-62 at the Wolstein Center.
Toledo (7-5) shot a sizzling 70.8 percent from the field in the second half and hit 7-of-11 from three-point range thanks to the shooting of juniors Jalen Sanford and Nate Navigato.
“In the first half, we . . .
CLEVELAND – The Toledo Rockets opened a three-game road trip Saturday afternoon by defeating the Cleveland State Vikings 77-62 at the Wolstein Center.
Toledo (7-5) shot a sizzling 70.8 percent from the field in the second half and hit 7-of-11 from three-point range thanks to the shooting of juniors Jalen Sanford and Nate Navigato.
“In the first half, we . . .
. . . took very poor shots. In the second half, we took great shots.” Rockets head coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “Also, the play of our point guards (Sanford and Navigato)(stood out) -- just two turnovers in the entire game.”
Sanford led all scorers in the game with 20 points, going 4-of-8 from beyond the arc with six assists, two steals and three blocked shots. He was one of four UT players in double figures. Navigato came off the bench to add 13, while freshmen Willie Jackson and Luke Knapke had 12 each. The latter two both pulled down eight rebounds.
Sanford led all scorers in the game with 20 points, going 4-of-8 from beyond the arc with six assists, two steals and three blocked shots. He was one of four UT players in double figures. Navigato came off the bench to add 13, while freshmen Willie Jackson and Luke Knapke had 12 each. The latter two both pulled down eight rebounds.
Cleveland State, playing its first season under new head coach Dennis Felton,
dropped to 3-9 after suffering its third consecutive defeat and fifth in the last six games.
“It was a one, two possession game throughout.” Felton said “However, that dry spell we went through (hurt) and (when) they pushed the lead back out to eight, (it) pretty much was the game.”
Freshman Tyree Appleby led the Vikings with 15 points, with an assist and two steals. Senior Anthony Wright added 13 and junior Dontel Highsmith, a transfer from Northern Illinois, had 12 off the bench.
In the first half, both teams exchanged the lead until UT used an 8-0 run to open a 26-22 lead at the 4:51 mark on a layup high off the glass by Willie Jackson. Toledo held a 32-30 lead at halftime.
The score remained close early the second period until the 11;21 mark when Navigato hit a pair of threes -- one from the left corner and one from the left arc. That put the Rockets in front 56-48 with 7:07 left, and they stayed in front the rest of the way.
dropped to 3-9 after suffering its third consecutive defeat and fifth in the last six games.
“It was a one, two possession game throughout.” Felton said “However, that dry spell we went through (hurt) and (when) they pushed the lead back out to eight, (it) pretty much was the game.”
Freshman Tyree Appleby led the Vikings with 15 points, with an assist and two steals. Senior Anthony Wright added 13 and junior Dontel Highsmith, a transfer from Northern Illinois, had 12 off the bench.
In the first half, both teams exchanged the lead until UT used an 8-0 run to open a 26-22 lead at the 4:51 mark on a layup high off the glass by Willie Jackson. Toledo held a 32-30 lead at halftime.
The score remained close early the second period until the 11;21 mark when Navigato hit a pair of threes -- one from the left corner and one from the left arc. That put the Rockets in front 56-48 with 7:07 left, and they stayed in front the rest of the way.
Jaelen Sanford led all scoring with 20 points. (UT Athletics)
Toledo continued to light up the scoreboard, opening as much as a 19-point lead following a layup by Knapke with 1:43 remaining before winning by 15.
UT, now 3-1 against Horizon League competition this season, shot 52.6 percent from the field (30-of-57) and was 10-of-25 from beyond the arc. The Rockets had a decisive 38-26 rebounding edge.
Meanwhile, Toledo held Cleveland State to just 39.3 percent from the field for the game (22-of-56). UT also had five steals and four blocked shots.
The Rockets continue their road trip in Philadelphia on Friday against Ivy League power Penn at The Palestra.
UT, now 3-1 against Horizon League competition this season, shot 52.6 percent from the field (30-of-57) and was 10-of-25 from beyond the arc. The Rockets had a decisive 38-26 rebounding edge.
Meanwhile, Toledo held Cleveland State to just 39.3 percent from the field for the game (22-of-56). UT also had five steals and four blocked shots.
The Rockets continue their road trip in Philadelphia on Friday against Ivy League power Penn at The Palestra.
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