KENT, Ohio – The University of Toledo men's basketball team got off to an ominous start to the game and an extended run by Kent State midway through the second half was the difference in an 84-77 win for the Golden Flashes on Tuesday night at the M.A.C. Center.
Kent State (12-3, 2-0 MAC) started quickly and held a 10-2 advantage at the first media timeout of the game, setting the tone for the game right from the start.
“That's where I credit our four leaders,” Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “They rallied the guys at a timeout and they know they are better than that. To start off 10-2 and how we did, that's unacceptable.”
“We can't start off against a tough team on the road 10-2 at the first media break,” Marreon Jackson added. “That can't happen.”
Toledo (8-7, 0-2 MAC) was able to work its way back into the game in large part to 18 first-half points from Marreon Jackson and the Rockets went into halftime tied at 33 after four ties and four lead changes during the first 20 minutes.
The teams battled back and forth until the game was tied at 58 with 8:37 remaining. Kent State then took control of the game as the Golden Flashes went on a 14-2 run to take a 72-60 lead with 4:06 left.
Antonio Williams hit two straight 3-pointers and Anthony Roberts made another in transition and Philip Whittington and Danny Pippen made Toledo pay down low during the key stretch of the game.
“We let them hit three 3's in a row I believe,” Marreon Jackson said. “We came back with empty possessions and they came back down with the big guys scoring two or three baskets in a row. That gave them the momentum and the crowd got back into it and it had us on our heels.”
Marreon Jackson ended up with a career-high 32 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the 3-point line and 10-of-18 shooting overall from the field.
“It's good to see his confidence back and him making shots,” Kowalczyk said. “I love his toughness. Obviously he has to do better not turning the ball over to start the game because that was big.”
Willie Jackson added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Toledo, while Luke Knapke battled foul trouble all game long including three personal fouls in the first half. Knapke had seven points for his first single-digit scoring output of the season. Spencer Littleson added nine points for the Rockets on 3-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Freshman center Luke Maranka stepped in for valuable minutes in the first half with five points while Knapke was on the bench.
Kent State had five players score in double figures led by 16 points each from Antonio Williams and the two big men Philip Whittington and Danny Pippen. Troy Simons added 15 points with a team-high three 3-pointers and Anthony Roberts chipped in with 11 points.
Toledo couldn't recover from that four-minute stretch in the second half when Kent State made their move as the Rockets dropped their fifth straight game overall.
“Things like these obstacles that team's face, it's all about the mental aspect,” Marreon Jackson said. “We know we've lost five in a row and we are going to get our doubters from the outside. We just have to stay connected and stay together.”
Stretches like the past five games for Toledo can test the resolve of a team and Kowalczyk expressed some frustration with the overall drive and mindset of his team at this stage of the season.
“It's got to tear your heart out,” Kowalczyk said. “If you are a competitive Division I basketball player, it has to tear your heart out. I'm not sure all 12 of those guys that it tears their heart out right now. It certainly does with our four leaders but everyone else it's got to tear their heart out.”
First Published January 8, 2020, 3:29 a.m.
