CLEVELAND, OH -- The Ohio Bobcats play pretty well -- when they are able to play, that is.
They got another chance Friday, and the 'Cats shined once again by taking out MAC Tournament No. 1 seed Toledo 87-80 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Jason Preston (27) and Ben Vander Plas (26) combined . . .
MAC Player of the Year Marreon Jackson led Toledo with 29 points. Setric Millner Jr. connected on 26 points.
Aside from free throws, where UT held a 12-8 edge, Ohio out-shot and out-rebounded the Rockets. Ohio connected on 48.6 percent from the field, while Toledo hit 47.7 percent. The 'Cats owned four more field goals and three more treys.
Toledo barely escaped an upset Thursday, slipping past No. 8 seed Ball State 91-89. When Ohio took an early lead, the Rockets spent much of their evening chasing a Bobcats team they had defeated 95-78 back in early January.
Leading 22-19 with 8:09 left in the first half, Ohio built its advantage to double digits (29-19) by the 6:42 mark. Despite a Marreon Jackson layup at the buzzer, Toledo trailed 43-31 when the teams broke for intermission.
Ohio built on its margin after play resumed and Jason Preston's triple at 12:39 left the Bobcats in front 61-44.
By the time Toledo reduced its deficit to single digits, there was just 1:37 left. Spencer Littleson's jumper with 14 seconds left brought UT within six, but the teams combined for just one more point before the final buzzer.