 "Photo:")
The Rockets' mens' basketball team lost 68-52 last night on the road against the University of Akron (5-2 MAC, 15-5) at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron. Toledo is now 3-4 in Mid-American Conference play and 6-13 overall.
In the first half, the Rockets controlled the tempo early as they hit seven of their first 12 shots from the field to take a 21-14 advantage with 11:16 remaining.
Toledo continued to build on that lead over the next five-plus minutes, going up by 14 after a layup from senior forward Jerrah Young made it 30-16 at the 5:43 mark. Things went downhill from there. The Zips regrouped after their timeout, going on a 12-3 run and melting the Rockets' lead to just five points to close out the first half.
Toledo missed three easy layups and committed four turnovers during that span, with the lone basket in the last five minutes coming on a 3-pointer from junior guard Ridley Johnson. It was 33-28 at the break.
Both teams were 11-for-27 from the field in the first half, however the Rockets knocked down six three-pointers and shot 54.5 percent from behind the arc.
Akron's momentum continued into the second half as the Zips took their first lead of the game after a three-pointer from Steve McNees made it 37-35 with 15:59 left in the contest. Johnson answered with a three-pointer of his own on the next possession to give the Rockets a one-point edge.
Both teams traded buckets over the next three minutes, and the score was tied at 42 with 12:29 remaining in the game. The Rockets only made two field goals after that as the Zips went on a 26-10 run and cruised to a 68-52 victory.
The Rockets only scored 19 points in the second half, shooting a dismal 20 percent from the field, in which they missed nine layups. Akron was 15-for-27 from the field in the half, with 27 of their 40 second half points coming on three-pointers.
The Zips outscored Toledo 24 to 12 in the paint, received 29 points from their bench compared to the Rockets nine, and had 17 points off turnovers. Toledo's last field goal of the game was with 8:10 left on the clock.
Despite sinking 80 percent of their free throws, the Rockets shot just 34 percent from the field in the game compared to the Zips 48.1 percent. Junior guard Tyrone Kent was held to just three points in 32 minutes. He and fellow junior Jonathon Amos combined for 3-of-21, shooting from the field in the game.
Junior guard Anthony Byrd led the Rockets with 12 points. Young had 11 points and six boards, and freshman Corey Bingham contributed nine points on four of six shooting.
Akron had three players in double figures, with reserve guard Steve McNees leading the way with 16 points.
The Rockets play the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Savage Hall when they host Kent State University at noon. The women's basketball game follows at 2:30 p.m. against Bowling Green State University.
Be the first to comment on this article!