KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Toledo remained unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play and extended its winning streak to five games with a 70-59 triumph at Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The victory was the Rockets' eighth straight win over . . .
"We played really well defensively and with a lot of energy but weren't making shots we typically make," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We did a great job of getting some separation at the end of the first half and that was really big to help us pick up a road win."
Toledo (8-3, 3-0 MAC) overcame its off-shooting day by limiting the Broncos to an 18.5 percent showing (5-of-27) from behind the three-point arc and committing just nine turnovers. The Rockets shot 38.5 percent from the field and were 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) from three-point range.
Freshman Ryan Rollins paced Toledo's attack by tying his season high with 20 points. He was joined in double figures by junior JT Shumate (16 pts.), senior Spencer Littleson (11 pts.) and senior Marreon Jackson (10 pts.).
Shumate nearly registered a double-double by grabbing a team-high nine boards to help the Rockets to a 40-37 rebounding advantage.
Sophomore B. Artis White led Western Michigan (2-6, 1-2 MAC) with 17 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Marreon Jackson and Spencer Littleson buried back-to-back treys to answer an 8-0 Bronco spurt and even the contest at 14-14 at the 10:33 mark.
Toledo began to assert itself with 11 unanswered points, capped off by a three-point play from Ryan Rollins for a 32-24 cushion with 3:33 left before the half. A pair of free throws from Rollins and Jackson to close out the half gave the Rockets a 39-27 lead at the break.
Toledo maintained control throughout the second half and never let its lead dip below eight points.
WMU made one last comeback bid when it cut the Rockets' lead to 65-57 with 1:39 remaining, but Toledo closed it out by hitting five of six free throws.
(UT Athletics/MRO Edit)