In a thrilling Battle of I-75 rivalry game Friday night, the Toledo Rockets men’s basketball team extended their home winning streak to five games with a nail-biting 83-76 victory over Bowling Green at Savage Arena. The Rockets (17-10, 10-4 MAC) overcame a 12-point second-half deficit behind Isaiah Adams’ season-high 24 points to solidify their position in the MAC tournament hunt.
Rockets Soar in Second Half
Toledo’s offense exploded for 48 second-half points after trailing 38-35 at halftime. Senior guard Isaiah Adams delivered his best performance since transferring from UCF, shooting 9-15 from the field while adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The Rockets improved to 12-1 at home this season by shooting 47% from three-point range – their best perimeter performance in conference play.
Key Stats From the Rivalry Showdown
| Category | Toledo | Bowling Green |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 48.4% | 42.1% |
| Three Pointers | 14-29 | 9-26 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 32 |
| Steals | 8 | 5 |
MAC Tournament Implications
The victory keeps Toledo in third place in the MAC standings with four regular season games remaining:
- Next Game: Tuesday vs Kent State (18-8)
- Remaining Schedule: @ Buffalo, vs Akron, vs Ohio
- Tournament Outlook: Projected as #3 seed in Cleveland
“This team showed tremendous resilience tonight,” said head coach Tod Kowalczyk. “When we shoot like this and defend the perimeter, we can compete with anyone in the conference”.
By the Numbers: Toledo’s Season Trends
- 78.5 PPG: Ranked 78th nationally in scoring
- +12 Scoring Margin: Best in MAC since January
- 13-0: Record when holding opponents under 70 points
The Rockets look to continue their momentum Tuesday against Kent State (7 PM ET, ESPN+), where they’re currently listed as 2.5-point favorites. With March Madness hopes still alive, every game becomes must-win for Toledo’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1980.
