STRONG SECOND HALF PROPELS ROCKETS PAST FGCU

December 18, 2010 - For the second consecutive game the Toledo Rockets came out of the locker room after intermission to outplay an opponent and, for the second consecutive game, left the floor after the final horn with a win, 75-63.

The opposition on Saturday evening was Florida Gulf Coast University (Ft. Myers FL) of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Eagles came into John F. Savage Arena with a 2-6 record on the season but they play a big-time schedule; going up against the likes of Indiana, Arkansas, Miami (FL), and Ohio State as a warm up for conference play.

Toledo, fresh on the heels of their first win this season, came out an grabbed a 5-1 lead in the first minute of play before a 16-0 FGCU run, that featured three consecutive treys, had the Rockets back on their heels and looking up at a 17-5 deficit.

Toledo freshman Dilano Dear finally stopped the Eagle onslaught when he rebounded his own missed layup for two points but three more triples and a dunk by Gulf Coast soon had the visitors up, 26-12, and UT scratching for something to put out the fire. The Rockets recovered in time to cut the margin to seven points, 37-30, before intermission.

The Eagles forged their first-half lead on the strength of seven triples, half of their total of 14 field goals for the first 20 minutes. FGCU was whistled for just two turnovers in the opening period and took advantage of seven Toledo turnovers to tally 11 points off of those miscues.

Sophomore Malcolm Griffin was 3-3 from three-point range in the early going to help Toledo stay reasonably close to Gulf Coast.

Toledo let the Eagles get out to a 44-34 lead in the opening minutes of the second half before coming together and fashioning a 15-5 run that pulled the Midnight Blue and Gold even at 49 with 13:29 to play.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game came during Toledo’s run when freshman Zack Leahy hit a long trifecta off of an inbounds pass with time running out on the shot clock to bring UT within eight, 47-41. Leahy’s clutch shot seemed to energize the team and definitely fired up the 3,941 fans in attendance.

The teams then sparred back and forth, with three ties and four lead changes, until Toledo senior Anthony Wright hit a triple to give UT a 59-56 lead that would continue to grow until the final horn. Wright also gave Toledo its largest lead of the contest, 75-61 with another deep three-pointer and a free throw in the final 20 seconds.

The leading scorer in the game was 6-6 sophomore forward Anthony Banks who tallied 23 points and also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds. Banks, who was whistled for a technical foul after hanging on the rim in the second half, received high praise from Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. “Without question Banks could be a first-team All-MAC player. He’s just a miss-match nightmare inside.” Helping Banks with the scoring was starting guard Reed Baker who clocked out with 15 points.

As in the previous win against Valparaiso, the Rockets got a balanced attack from five players who scored in double figures. Leading Toledo for the first time was freshman point guard J.T. Thomas who had 16 points (11 points in the second half). “For me this game was all about rhythm and trying to get back in the flow of things,” said Thomas afterward.

Griffin and Wright had 12 points apiece and the duo was responsible for seven of Toledo’s 11 triples, Griffin a perfect 4-4. Dear had 10 points and freshman Reese Holliday earned a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Holliday has been a real warrior in Toledo’s two wins going right in to mix it up with the taller post players.

Following FGCU’s display of three-point shooting in the first half, the Eagles would make just 3-15 shots from behind the line for the rest of the game. Toledo, on the other hand, was 6-10 from long distance in the second half and finished with 11-21 for the game. In the all-important assists to turnovers statistic, The Rockets also fared well, being credited with 17 assists to 12 turnovers.

In talking about the win, Kowalczyk said; “I think more than anything this team is beginning to understand who we are and how we have to play, and that’s been a good thing for us because for the first month we didn't understand that. We'd preach it, teach it, coach it and emphasize it in that first month but we didn't understand it. Nothing helps to understand it more than a little success.”

 The Rockets hope to extend their win streak to three games this Tuesday, Dec.21 when NAIA Indiana-Northwest comes to town. Game time is 7:00pm

“Hey, bartender: Frosties all around.