HENDERSON, Nev. — The University of Toledo men’s basketball team dropped the second of three games at the Ball Dawgs Classic, losing 77-71 to the University of California, Irvine, late Wednesday.
The Rockets (3-2) trailed by 14 points with 5:02 remaining before going on a 13-0 run, capped by Tyler Cochran’s layup with 33 second remaining, to make it a one-point game.
Toledo, however, could not get over the hump. UC Irvine (5-1) made a couple of free throws to extend their lead, and Ra’Heim Moss’ 3-point attempt with 17 seconds remaining was off the mark.
The Rockets committed 14 turnovers, giving up a 21-5 UC Irvine run at the end of the first half and start of the second that gave the Anteaters a 17-point lead.
"We were really hurt when they made their run," Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We also committed too many turnovers and you can't do that against a very good veteran team like UC Irvine."
Moss led the Rockets with 19 points. Javan Simmons and Sonny Wilson each had 14 points, while Dante Maddox, Jr., put in 10 points.
Devin Tillis was UC Irvine’s top scorer with 24 points.
Toledo concludes the three-game event in suburban Las Vegas with a game at 2 p.m. Friday against Indiana State.
First Published November 24, 2023, 12:59 a.m.
