HUSKIES TAKE DOWN ROCKETS IN OVERTIME

Toledo, OH – As the clock wound down to the final minutes of regulation time in Toledo’s game with visiting Northern Illinois on Saturday evening, it looked as if the Rockets might actually get a rare victory, something the team has desperately needed since mid January. And with the win UT would also snap the demoralizing 10-game losing streak that the team had carried around its neck like the dead albatross that burdened the Ancient Mariner in the famous poem that bears his name.

But a missed free throw; an offensive putback that really wasn't contested; and a final three-point opportunity that was off the mark combined to spoil a determined effort by Toledo to earn a hard-fought win.

UT had a one-point lead, 63-62, and the basketball when Zack Leahy was fouled with 16 seconds to play in regulation time. Leahy made the first foul toss but missed on his second effort and the ball was rebounded by Northern Illinois. The Huskies moved quickly down the court and attempted a layup with nine seconds remaining. The shot was missed, but 6-7 Tyler Storm positioned himself for the rebound and scored the tying points with six seconds remaining. Jay Shunnar missed Toledo’s final opportunity for a win at the buzzer when his 3-point shot failed to find the rim as time ran out, sending the game into overtime.

As the extra period began, it seemed as if the failure to secure the win in the first 40 minutes took its toll on the Midnight Blue and Gold, allowing the Huskies to outscore the home team 11-6, and head back to DeKalb with a 75-70 win.

The game began with Toledo missing seven of its first eight shots from the floor, a very early basket by Anthony Wright being the team’s only bucket until Delino Dear scored on a layup at the 12:20 mark. Fortunately for the Rockets the Huskies were also having their problems getting the ball through the net, allowing Malcolm Griffin to knot the score at 11-all on a layup with just under 12 minutes to play.

NIU quickly regained the lead on the strength of a triple by Tim Toler, a very beefy 6-7 tank of a player, and the Huskies would maintain their lead throughout the remainder of the first half, going to intermission on the long end of a 37-32 score.

Toler, a man who looks as if he should be playing on the offensive line for the football Huskies had 12 points in the first 20 minutes, a figure that included shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Wright and Shunnar shared scoring honors for Toledo with eight points each. The Rockets had their opportunities to take it to the Huskies in the early going, but shot just 28 % (7-of-25). UT stayed close to the visitors in the first half by converting 12-of-13 free throw attempts.

Northern Illinois stretched its second-half lead to seven points, 36-29, on yet another Toler triple before the Rockets began chipping away at the margin.  And when Griffin scored on a layup off of a beautiful pass from Wright, UT had its first lead of the period, 37-36.

After Leahy cranked up a 3-pointer to put Toledo up 40-38 with 12:29 to play, both teams began sparring back and forth .  Toledo led by as many as six points, 54-48 as the clock wound down to the final five minutes. Except for a brief NIU one point lead the Rockets had the upper hand until Storm’s layup tied the score and sent the game into extra innings.

The overtime period was anticlimactic for Toledo. After matching baskets with Northern Illinois throughout regulation play, Tod Kowalczyk’s crew would muster just one basket, a triple from Griffin to tie the score at 67-all. Three additional free throws would be the sum total of the Rocket scoring until the final buzzer.

Toledo had a balanced scoring attack led by Griffin who finished with 17 points. Shunnar and Wright each had 12 points, and Dear had 10. Leahy just missed hitting double digits with nine points. In addition to his point production, Dear had a game-high 11 rebounds in recording a double-double. Griffin also had a game-high seven assists.

Toler had a game-high 19 points for Northern Illinois and he was assisted by Jeremy Landers (19 points) and DeMarcus Grady (11 points).

Toledo (4-25, 1-13 MAC) will play its final home game this Thursday against Central Michigan. Tipoff is 7:00 pm.

Ah ! well a-day ! what evil looks
Had I from old and young !
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.

From the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.