If there were any questions about University of Toledo point guard Sonny Wilson making a second-year leap, they’ve already been answered.
In just three games, the Pontiac native has flashed Mid-American Conference player of the year ability.
The latest came on Wednesday in an 86-77 victory over Wright State in the Savage Arena opener.
Wilson had 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, with eight rebounds, three rebounds, and four turnovers in 32 minutes. Through three games, Wilson is averaging 17.6 points on 19-of-30 shooting with 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 turnovers.
“Oh, he’s good,” UT coach Tod Kowalczyk said, with emphasis. “He can get to the rim. He can finish. His shooting is good. It’s just his winning attitude and his leadership, what he stands for. That’s the special part.”
Toledo led by 13 in the first half, shooting 60 percent from the field. But Wright State stormed back and tied the game at 49 with 14:35 left. The Rockets restored its double-digit advantage with an 18-8 run, but the Raiders pulled within a possession in the final minute.
This is the second straight game UT hasn’t trailed.
Seth Hubbard scored 15 points off the bench for the second consecutive game, Isaiah Adams scored 18 points, Javan Simmons had 12 points and six assists, and Sam Lewis scored 10 points.
Bryce Ford scored seven points, all in the second half while Wright State was making a run.
“I realized as soon as we had open gym, I knew it was going to be a deep team just how everyone was scoring the ball and the way we were moving it,” Wilson said. “Normally in open gym, it’s more 1-on-1. But that wasn’t the case for us. Everyone was sharing the ball, playing together, and talking loud. From then on, I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to do something this year.’”
The Raiders’ dynamic duo of Brandon Noel (21.7 points) and Alex Huibregste (21.3 points) were each averaging more than 20 points per game. Noel had 24 and Huibregste had 16.
There was skepticism when Kowalczyk talked extensively about UT’s improved defense as the Rockets entered the 2024-25 season. Marshall shot 40 percent on Saturday and Wright State was held to the same number in the first half before catching fire in the second half, converting on 19 of 32 field goal attempts.
“My bench eye would say it was much more them than it was us. They made some shots,” Kowalczyk said. “You’ve got to face it, they’ve got the player of the year in the [Horizon] league and a first-team guy. They’ve got two really good players.”
In March, Kowalczyk declared that Isaiah Adams was one of the best players in the MAC. When the 6-foot-6 guard entered the transfer portal, Toledo had immediate interest. On Wednesday, it was obvious why — and Kowalczyk’s judgment was validated.
Adams had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting (2 of 3 from 3-point range), four rebounds, two steals, and an assist — at halftime.
“If somebody’s having a bad game, we got people to pick us up,” Simmons said. “We got a lot of guys who contribute to us winning games.”
Through three games, a Toledo player has scored in double figures 14 times.
“We celebrated a heck of a day for the Rockets’ future,” Kowalczyk said. “We signed a really good recruiting class. Five guys. Our recruiting continues to get better and better. My assistant coaches are doing a great job. And we’ve got two guys here next to me [Wilson and Simmons] that are the best recruiting players. They take pride in it. They’re tremendous at spending time and really showing the recruits what our program is all about.”
The Rockets are on the road for a third time Saturday, traveling up I-75 to the University of Detroit for a 4 p.m. contest at Calihan Hall.
First Published November 14, 2024, 2:13 a.m.
