The only other Rocket to score in double digits, notching 14 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double to help UT down its cross-division foe for the fifth time in the last six outings. Sophomore guard Daniel Utomi was one of three Zips to score in double figures with a team-high 19 points. He was joined by freshman forward Eric Parrish and graduate transfer guard Malcolm Divivier with 17 and 14 points, respectively. It was a tale of two halves for the Rockets shooting the basketball. UT was red-hot in the opening 20 minutes with a 57.7 FG percentage before going ice cold for the first eight minutes of the final stanza en route to a 35.0 F percentage. Toledo shot 47.8 percent overall, marking the first time in four contests it failed to make at least half of its shots.

Emu Holds Off Toledo Rally For Mac 2017

The Rockets also converted 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) of their three-point attempts but was 0-for-8 behind the arc in the final 20 minutes despite many good looks. The Zips notched a 45.0 shooting mark and shot 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from three-point range. Toledo displayed extreme balance in the first half as all nine players who took the court scored, and seven different Rockets knocked down a three-point field goal. The Rockets appeared ready to pull away from the Zips with an 11-2 spurt in the final four-plus minutes of the first half. Sanford ignited the burst with a layup and three-pointer. After a basket from Utomi, sophomore center Luke Knapke and sophomore forward Willie Jackson each hit a triple to give UT its first double-digit advantage.

After holding a 41-31 lead at intermission, Toledo extended its lead to 14 with a pair of Fletcher free throws and a Sanford jumper just over a minute into the second stanza. The Rockets then could only muster three Fletcher free throws over the next 8:33 when freshman guard Marreon Jackson's layup gave UT a 50-46 lead with 10:17 to play. The Zips eventually took their first lead since the game's first two minutes, 55-54, on Duvivier's jumper with 4:58 to play. After a Knapke free throw evened the score 22 seconds later, Fletcher slammed one one home as part of a three-point play to give the Rockets the lead for good. Sanford helped hold off the Zips' attempted rally with a baseline jumper for a 64-60 lead at the 1:47 mark and a leaning, one-handed jumper just inside the free-throw line for a 66-62 advantage with 16 seconds to play. Toledo remains home for its next contest on Tuesday, Jan. 9 when it hosts MAC West Division foe Western Michigan (9-5, 1-0 MAC).

Emu Holds Off Toledo Rally For Mac

Digitech jamman driver for mac. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. With the contest being streamed on ESPN3.

Akron hosts preseason MAC East favorite Buffalo Tuesday (7 p.m. ET) (Courtesy of UT Athletics).

Publisher Mike Smith saw his first MAC football action as a nine-year-old while hanging onto the flagpole of a nearby baseball stadium. The view got better after he discovered he could get in free at halftime. Decades later, he can usually be found either on press row or along the sidelines. Mike has won awards for both his stories and pictures during his time in journalism. Combining his own skills with those of other writers and photographers, along with conference and school resources, he constantly works to provide an enjoyable MAC product.