Rockets Victimized by Late Rally in 78-73 Loss at Cleveland State
CLEVELAND, OH - Toledo led for the first 39 minutes, but Cleveland State capitalized on four UT turnovers in the final four minutes to rally for a 78-73 victory over the Rockets on Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.
UT (2-5) shot 52.1 percent in the contest and received season-best scoring performances from junior F Matt Smith (20 pts.), junior F Reese Holliday (16 pts.) and freshman C Nathan Boothe (15 pts.). Junior F Rian Pearson also was in double figures with13 points in addition to registering a team-high six rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore G Charlie Lee paced the Viking attack with a career-high 22 points. He was joined in double figures by freshman G Bryn Forbes (16 pts.), senior F Tim Kamczyc (15 pts.) and sophomore G Sebastian Douglas (10 pts.).
Cleveland State shot 52.9 percent, including a red-hot 65.4 clip (17-of-26) in the second half.
Toledo bolted out to an early 11-2 advantage but couldn't extend its lead any further and took a 32-26 lead into intermission. The Vikings tied the score at 39-39 less than four minutes into the second half, but Smith knocked down back-to-back treys for a 45-41 lead. Pearson then scored six straight points to put the Rockets up nine, 56-47, midway through the stanza.
The Vikings chipped away though and eventually tied the score at 69-69 with 2:33 to play. Pearson hit a pair of free throws to give the Rockets a 71-69 lead with 2:15 left, UT had a chance to extend its margin following freshman G Josh Lemons' steal but a turnover led to Douglas tying the game with a reverse layup with 1:22 remaining.
Pearson then missed a 15-foot jumper on Toledo's next possession, and Lee hit a three-pointer to give CSU its first lead of the contest with 31 seconds left. Douglas then stole a pass at midcourt and took it the length of the court for a layup to extend the Vikings' lead to five (76-71) with 19.3 seconds remaining.
Holliday was then fouled before UT could get off a three-point shot and sank a pair to make it a one-possession contest with 10.6 ticks showing on the clock. CSU was able to in-bounds the ball against the Rockets' press and Lee hit two free throws to ice the game.
Toledo returns to the road on Wednesday, Dec. 5 with a short trip up I-75 to face Detroit. Tip-off time from Calihan Hall is set for 7:00 p.m.
