ROCKETS COME UP SHORT AGAINST UIC

November 19, 2010 - A pair of scoring droughts and some poor free-throwing shooting proved to be the downfall for Toledo as the Rockets dropped a 57-51 decision to the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in Game #2 of the 2K Sports Classic at Savage Arena on Friday..

On paper the contest appeared to be a game that UT had an excellent chance of winning, following a couple of blowout losses to national powers, Illinois and Temple. UIC, a member of the Horizon League, was coming off of an 8-22 year in 2009-10, finishing ninth in league play.

The game marked the debut for Toledo of freshman point guard J. T. Thomas who was sidelined in preseason drills after undergoing surgery for an incomplete leg fracture. Thomas got the call to start along with fellow freshmen Delino Dear, Hayden Humes, Zack Leahy, and senior Anthony Wright.

Toledo fell into a hole early on, missing its first five shots and didn't register its first points until Humes scored on a layup at the 14:49 mark. UT had but six points on the scoreboard with just under nine minutes to play in the half. The Rockets managed to tie the game at 14 when Dear scored on a layup, and knotted it again at 22 when Thomas cashed in on a pair of free throws.However, they found themselves looking up at a 27-22 halftime deficit when UIC scored the final five points of the period.

It looked like déjà vu all over again after intermission as it took the Midnight Blue and Gold almost six minutes before sophomore Malcolm Griffin would move Toledo off of those 22 points with a jump shot at the 14:18 mark. UT kept it close for the rest of the contest but some errant marksmanship at the charity stripe during crunch time cost the locals dearly.

The Rockets had a chance to tie the score at 52 with just 00:39 to play but freshman Reese Holliday missed the backend of a two-shot foul and the final five points were scored by the visitors.

Humes (photo right), Toledo’s Iron Man for the night, logged in 37 minutes of playing time en-route to a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. The redshirt freshman was 4-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. In speaking of Humes’ performance Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said, “Hayden has to be the tangible guy. We talked about that, and tonight he was. And he’s really buying into that role. He needed to be our tough guy, our physical guy and he was. He was our Iron Man.”

The Rockets were led in scoring by senior forward Anthony Wright. The former Michigan Wolverine had 15 points on four treys, and several times his long range shooting kept UIC from extending its lead. The burley Wright, who is still trying to get in game shape after a foot injury, also grabbed seven rebounds.

Thomas logged in 29 minutes in the first game of his college career and scored 10 points for his efforts. His point total might have been more had he not been whistled for three charges going to the hoop for scores. “For my first game I'd give myself a six or seven,” said the New Orleans native. “It felt good just to get on the court.”

The two other freshmen starters, Dear and Leahy had their troubles during the game, shooting a combined 2-of-11 from the floor and 1-of -5 from the charity stripe.

For the contest the Rockets got to the free-throw line 23 times but could convert on just 13 of those for 46.5%. In contrast, UIC was 14-of-16 in charity tosses

UIC’s senior guard Robo Kreps led all scorers with 20 points and gave both Thomas and Leahy fits when they were guarding him. Two other Flames finished in double figures.

In the opening game of the tournament, the Rhode Island Rams got the best of the College of Charleston, 75-66. The Rockets will tangle with Rhode Island on Saturday in the second game of the round-robin. Game time is 7:00 pm.