Rockets drop another close one

Turning the ball over and giving up second chance points are two of the easiest ways to lose a basketball game. The Toledo men's team found that out the hard way on Saturday afternoon when they lost a double digit lead in the second half to drop a tough one to rival Bowling Green, 66-63.

UT allowed 40 points in the paint, many of those coming directly from turnovers leading to transition baskets and letting BG get extra looks after misses. The Falcons (13-11, 7-4 MAC) snatched 21 offensive rebounds and turned the Rockets over 18 times.

"We had some stretches where we played very efficient basketball and other stretches where we showed some of our youthfulness," said UT head coach Tod Kowalcyzk. "I don't think they shot a very good percent on the first attempt, but on the second attempt, they probably shot 85 percent, and that was the story of the game."

   Toledo turned it over five times in the first seven minutes, which led to an early deficit. BG scored their first 16 points from the paint.

UT used the three-point shot to keep it close in the first half, burying five in the opening 20 minutes. Freshman guard Julius "Juice" Brown hit three of them to put together a stretch of nine straight points. With about six minutes to play in the first, Brown connected on back-to-back triples and then converted on a three-point play to put Toledo up by nine. The Rockets led 29-22 at the half with the help of a 20-5 run led by Brown.

In the second half, junior guard Curtis Dennis came to life and gave Toledo a much needed spark off the bench. Dennis was 5-6 from beyond the arc and scored 14 of his 17 points in the second.

"We see it every day (in practice), I think he's one of the best pure shooters in the conference, but his stats haven't shown it," Kowalczyk said. "I think he played a very good offensive game, no question about it."

   Starting around the 16 minute mark, Bowling Green went on a 15-5 run to get within one after BG forward Torian Oglesby threw down a powerful two-handed jam off of a UT turnover.

Out of a timeout, Dennis started to find his shot. He buried a three pointer and followed it up with acrobatic reverse layup to put the Rockets back up by six with 10:58 to play.

"My teammates believe in me, that's where it comes from," Dennis said. "You have to be mentally tough."

   Toledo seemed to have control until the Falcons went on another run and tied the game with 6:54 left. Junior forward A'uston Calhoun followed up a miss with a thunderous put-back slam that sent the Stroh Center into a frenzy. Calhoun recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 boards.