MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — For the first time in more than a year, the University of Toledo experienced a loss in a Mid-American Conference regular-season game.
Central Michigan’s interior size and defensive moxie frustrated the out-of-sorts Rockets, who lost 65-62 in front of a raucous Friday night crowd at McGuirk Arena.
But the Chippewas needed all 40 minutes, as they nearly blew a six-point lead in the final minute, turning the ball over with 0.7 seconds left, and then hanging on for dear life, as Ra’Heim Moss missed an open 3 at the buzzer that would have sent the game into an unexpected overtime.
UT’s last regular-season MAC loss came on Jan. 10, 2023 at Kent State.
The Rockets had a forgettable night on offense, shooting less than 35 percent from the field and only 20 percent from 3-point range. The funk even extended to the free-throw line, where Toledo was 28 for 28 at Central last year.
On Friday, the Rockets were 16 of 23. They entered the night ranked 15th nationally at the line (77 percent).
The Chippewas put Toledo in a second-half hole with a 14-3 run that gave Central a 53-45 lead — its largest of the game — with a little more than seven minutes left. It started with an ill-advised technical by Moss, who had been warned several times about extracurriculars.
Central’s run followed a 10-2 spurt by Toledo — an Andre Lorentsoon 3, a Dante Maddox, Jr., 3 and-1, and a Moss and-1. The 42-39 lead was the Rockets’ biggest of the night.
Maddox scored a game-high 21 points, with nine rebounds. Moss finished with 15 points and Tyler Cochran had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals.
Central guard Anthony Pritchard led the Chippewas with 20 points, scoring 16 in the second half.
Central led 30-23 at halftime after an unartful first half.
Toledo shot 32 percent, made one of nine 3-point attempts, and had stretches of four-plus and six-plus minutes with zero points.
STAT TO KNOW
Toledo only assisted on six of 21 field goals.
QUOTABLE
“Resilient team. Confident. Battle-tested. I knew we were going to get back in the game. That wasn’t a question. This group has a lot of heart and a lot of fight.” — Maddox
UP NEXT
The Rockets are on the road again, at Northern Illinois for an 8 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday. The Huskies are winless in the MAC and losers of their past seven games.
First Published January 20, 2024, 3:29 a.m.
