Article published December 09, 2007
Rockets clamp down on Drexel
Defense helps UT end 7-game slide
Toledo's Jonathan Amos, right, races up the floor with Drexel's Gerald Colds in pursuit. Amos scored 11 points.
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THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY
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By MAUREEN FULTON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
As University of Toledo coach Stan Joplin watched his team throw some passes up for grabs near the end of its authoritative performance last night, committing six turnovers in the final 2 1/2 minutes, he wasn't too surprised.
The Rockets knew ending their losing streak wouldn't be trouble-free.
"No game in our schedule is going to be easy," Joplin said. "It's just not going to be. I'm facing the fact that that's going to happen."
UT beat Drexel 57-44 at Savage Hall, clamping down on defense to end its seven-game slide. It was the lowest point total for a Rockets opponent since Kent State scored 44 on Feb. 7, 2006.
Tyrone Kent led UT (2-7) with 14 points. Four Rockets players scored in double figures for the first time since the Vanderbilt game on Nov. 13.
Jonathan Amos had 11 points, nine rebounds and six steals, his rebounds and steals numbers tying career-highs.
Toledo’s Jonathan Amos (4) falls down after Drexel’s Scott Rodgers (3) makes contact with him but no foul was called.
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THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY
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UT held Drexel's leading scorer Tramayne Hawthorne to six points on 2-of-13 shooting. Drexel (5-4) shot 1-15 on 3-pointers after coming into the game connecting on 39 percent of them.
"It's nice that the guys can get some good results from playing," Joplin said. "Our defense was pretty sound. For the team's mind-set, I think it was crucial."
Drexel likes to run its offense through its big man Frank Elegar. When Elegar got two fouls in the first two minutes and had to sit, the Dragons went into disarray.
UT forced a few turnovers using ball pressure in front of the crowd of 3,901, and it led Drexel to start making unforced errors. UT jumped out to a 26-8 lead, and Drexel never got within single digits again.
Elegar ended up scoring 12 points, but Jerrah Young made it very tough for him. Young shook off some early turnovers and stepped up his defense, grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds in addition to 12 points.
"I was playing good defense, but as far as offense I wasn't concentrating and was making mistakes," Young said of his play early. "The second half I just stuck with it."
Balanced scoring helped UT's offense start off well. Ridley Johnson, entering the game shooting 33 percent from the field, had 10 points in the first half. Anthony Byrd also knocked down two 3-pointers.
"We knew we couldn't lose anymore," Johnson said. "It was tiring, and we're not used to it. We had a little chat and decided we've got to stop losing, start winning and practice harder. We got it done."
| TOLEDO-DREXEL BOX SCORE |
Drexel (44)
2FG 3FG FT R MIN A PTS
Oveneke 3-5 0-1 0-0 5 35 3 6
Elegar 6-7 0-0 0-0 8 23 1 12
Hawthorne 2-6 0-7 2-2 0 35 2 6
Rodgers 1-2 0-0 3-5 2 24 2 5
Harris 2-5 0-0 0-1 3 22 2 4
Colds 1-3 1-5 1-3 4 26 0 6
Hampton 1-1 0-1 1-1 0 9 0 3
Formbor 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 3 0 0
Hynes-Guery 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 4 0 0
Neisler 1-3 0-1 0-0 1 13 0 2
Tribbett 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 6 0 0
TOTAL 17-33 1-15 7-12 27 200 10 44
Toledo (57)
2FG 3FG FT R MIN A PTS
Amos 5-6 0-0 1-1 9 35 3 11
Young 6-12 0-0 0-2 10 33 2 12
Bingham 1-1 0-6 0-0 4 31 3 2
Johnson 2-2 2-7 0-0 4 32 1 10
Kent 2-4 2-6 4-4 2 31 3 14
Anyijong 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 3 0 0
Lo 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 8 0 2
Byrd 0-2 2-2 0-0 1 27 2 6
TOTAL 17-29 6-21 5-7 33 200 14 57
Team rebounds included in totals.
Halftime: 36-19, UT.
Attendance: 3,901. |
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A test of adversity came when Kent got two fouls in a span of 17 seconds midway through the second half, the second one his fourth. He had to sit for an extended time on the bench with 11:27 remaining, and getting the ball past halfcourt became an adventure for the Rockets. UT had 12 turnovers in the second half and Drexel scored 16 points off them.
"It was a good example of how not to break a press," Joplin said.
The Dragons got within 11 with 1:32 to play after several Rockets turnovers.
But UT calmed down and held its ground.
"This team has to learn how to play with the lead," Joplin said.
Contact Maureen Fulton at:
mfulton@theblade.com
or 419-724-6160.
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