ROCKETS CORRAL WESTERN MICHIGAN FOR FIRST MAC WIN

When last we visited the Toledo Rockets at Savage Arena back on January 8, they were getting hammered by Eastern Michigan in a 71-48 rout that opened up Mid-American Conference play. After sustaining a pair of road losses against Central Michigan and Northern Illinois things didn't look all that rosy for UT as they prepared to take the court against the Western Michigan Broncos, a team that had won seven of the past eight games played against Toledo, and a team that also manhandled Eastern Michigan at home, 65-48, on Jan. 16.

But there is a reason for playing the games, and Tod Kowalczyk’s squad would make the most out of their 40-minute athletic soiree with the visitors.

This was a game that saw UT venture into unfamiliar territory against a Division-1 opponent this season: The Midnight Blue and Gold never once trailed in the contest. Except for a couple of ties early in the first half this one was all Toledo.

The Rockets broke a 4-4 tie early on with a 10-0 run that didn't bode well for the Broncos as they struggled with some shooting woes, both from the floor and at the free throw line.

Toledo’s defense, be it man-to-man or their zone, kept the visitors from getting a lot of good looks at the basket, and Western Michigan just couldn't take advantage of the open looks it did get, never making a run of their own to cut into the Rocket lead. The Broncos did come within six points on two occasions, but each time the Rockets answered with a basket. The teams went into intermission with Toledo holding a 37-23 lead.

Leading the way for the Rockets in the first period were Hayden Humes and Reese Holliday who had eight points each. Toledo shot a respectable 44.4 percent (12-27) from the floor, a figure that included 4-8 from beyond the arc. Western finished the half shooting 32.0 percent (8-25). The Rockets also had a sizable advantage at the charity stripe making good on 9-of-11 tosses while the Broncos converted just 3-of -7 shots from the stripe.

Malcom Griffin, who had 31 points in the loss to Northern Illinois on Jan.15, and Humes who was having his best game as a Rocket with some strong offense in the paint, both stepped up their game in the final 20 minutes to keep the Broncos from mounting a serious rally, although the visitors did cut the margin to six points, 53-47, at the 5:44 mark. But the Rockets weren't going to be denied in this game and they soon had the margin back up to double-digits.

A basket by Griffin in the paint with 1:44 to play made the score 61-51 and the rest of the contest became a march to the free throw line for Toledo as the Broncos were forced to foul in a vain attempt to close the gap. UT went to the charity stripe 14 times in the final 78 seconds, cashing in 12 times before the clock ran out.

Griffin had a game-high 22 points in the win for Toledo. The sophomore from Chicago also recorded five rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Humes finished with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds. The Rockets were 26-of-34 at the free throw line and 11 of Humes’s points came at the stripe. Holliday and freshman point guard J.T. Thomas each tallied 10 points in the victory. Holliday just missed a double-double, grabbing nine rebounds before fouling out in the contest with 2:39 to play. Thomas made four consecutive free throws to close out the scoring for both teams before the final buzzer.

Western Michigan has a huge freshman center in 6-9, 300 pound Matt Stainbrook who was averaging 9.8 points coming into the game with Toledo. Part of Toledo’s defensive strategy was to double down on Stainbrook in the paint, cut down on his touches, and contest his shots. Humes, Delano Dear, and Holliday helped to keep the Bronco behemoth from scoring a point in 19 minute of playing time.

Western Michigan was led in scoring by junior guard Demetrius Ward who netted 20 points and junior forward Flenard Whitfield who checked out with 15 markers.

Each team had 21 field goals in the game with Western Michigan making two more triples (7) to five for Toledo. The Rockets won this game at the free throw line where they were 26-of-34, while Western Michigan was just 11-of-21, missing the front end of several one-and-one opportunities.

After the game, Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk told the media: “I told our guys in the locker room that we need to remember this game and some how find a way to bottle our energy and enthusiasm. I thought that tonight we played with a chip on our shoulder from start to finish.”

Toledo (4-14, 1-3 MAC) must now prepare for a Saturday meeting with West Division leader Ball State as part of a Savage Arena double-header. The Rocket women face Buffalo at 4:30 pm, followed by the men.