OXFORD, Ohio Nate Navigato scored two key baskets down the stretch as Toledo edged Miami 66-63 Tuesday at Millett Hall.
It was the Rockets 12th straight win over MU, but it didn't come easy as Miami - riding a three-game win streak -- battled back from an 11-point deficit midway through the final period.
The RedHawks finally caught UT at 61-all with a Jalen Adaway bucket in the paint with 2:40 remaining. Toledo (17-4, 5-3 MAC) managed to get off three shots at the other end thanks to a pair of offensive rebounds, but none of the shots fell.
Miami's lead was short-lived. Navigato missed his first shot from behind the arc on UT's following possession, but the Rockets grabbed the rebound and called one of two big time outs down the stretch. When play resumed, Navigato got another chance and hit a three to put Toledo up 64-63.
When Nike Sibande, who led Miami with 18 points, missed at the other end, UT grabbed the rebound. After getting to the front court and failing to find a shot, Toledo called another time out with 20 seconds left.
Fifteen seconds remained and Miami called its own time out after reaching the front court. Toledo's defense, however, forced a tough 3-point attempts by Brown that missed the mark.
"This was a big win for us against a good team on the road," said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk, who is 12-1 against Miami. "After not playing that well in the first half, Navi had a big second half for us and hit some really big shots. We're a veteran team, and I was proud of how we responded after Miami came back to take the lead."
Navigato led all scorers with 20 points. Marreon Jackson (16) and Luke Knapke (13) also reached double figures for Toledo (17-4), which maintained its lead in the MAC West.
Bam Bowman, who scored 18 points -- 15 on threes as he hit 5-of-9 outside the arc and added a pair of free throws.
NOTES:
*** Toledo had five more field goals (26-21), but the RedHawks were 11-of-29 outside the arc, while Toledo -- the MAC's top 3-point team -- made just 8-of-27 long distance tries.
*** Fresh off rebounding the nation's top rebounding team in a victory over Bowling Green, the RedHawks faltered on the boards against UT. The Rockets held a 42-28 rebounding advantage. It was a 9-2 Toledo edge on the offensive glass.
*** Luke Knapke was just one rebound off a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine boards. Navigato notched 20 points and eight caroms.
*** Toledo had advantages over Miami in turnovers (6-12), points in the paint (28-16) and second chance points (6-1).
*** The Rockets are 4-1 in games decided by five points or less this season, and 11-3 in those contests since the start of the 2017-18 campaign.