Toledo Rockets Edge Ohio Bobcats in Overtime Thriller

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Toledo Rockets pulled off a dramatic 90-85 overtime victory over the Ohio Bobcats in the MAC men’s basketball tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, setting up a semifinal clash with the No. 1 seed Akron Zips on Friday.

The Rockets, seeded fourth and boasting an 18-14 record, overcame a challenging game against the No. 5 seeded Bobcats, who put up a strong fight despite finishing their season at 17-16. The triumph came after a tense matchup that saw neither team lead by more than seven points during regulation.

“We had some guys maybe force some things in the first half. Second half, Javan (Simmons) just wasn’t Javan. We had too many turnovers, but I thought offensively we got stagnant in the second half. We got out of our way, and now we’re moving on,” said Rockets head coach Tod Kowalczyk.

In the final minute of regulation, Ohio’s AJ Clayton took control, scoring a hook shot to give the Bobcats a 73-72 edge. Following a series of free throws exchanged between both teams, the score stood at 73-all with only seconds left, leading to a frantic finish. The Bobcats relied on Jackson Paveletzke, who tallied 28 points, as he hit a crucial step-back jumper to bring Ohio ahead again.

The game took another twist as Paveletzke drove again but missed the layup, leading to a crucial foul on Toledo’s Isaiah Adams, who fouled out late in the game. This forced the Rockets to look elsewhere for offensive production.

“It was back and forth all game. We were trading baskets, and they would go on a little run, and we would answer. But it hurts,” Paveletzke reflected on the contest.

Isaiah Lewis stepped up for Toledo in overtime, scoring eight of his total 21 points to push the Rockets ahead. Despite a potential tying 3-point attempt from Paveletzke that missed its mark in the final seconds, Toledo held firm for the win.

“We’re a tough team. We went over their game plan a lot, so our team’s attention to detail grew. That was big coming into this game,” Lewis noted.

Adams had a standout performance, starting strong with two 3-pointers and finishing the game with 26 points, although he faced challenges with foul trouble that hampered his play. “There were some calls I didn’t agree with, but I had to stay positive,” Adams said.

The Bobcats, led by Paveletzke’s prowess both in scoring and playmaking, utilized a 2-3 zone defense that consistently pressured the Rockets, forcing them to adapt. However, Toledo managed to gain a slight edge, leading 39-35 at halftime.

Coach Jeff Boals of Ohio highlighted the effectiveness of his team’s adjustments in their defensive strategy. “Our perimeter defense was a lot better. They only had 32 points in the paint, which was an improvement over our previous meetings,” he remarked.

The intensity of the game was amplified by contested fouls and critical free throw situations, drawing scrutiny on officiating decisions from both sides. “Toledo shot 35 free throws. That was a significant difference,” Boals added, expressing frustration over the disparity in foul calls.

As the Rockets prepare for their showdown against Akron, they aim to rectify past defeats against the Zips. “We’re ready to play them again,” Adams stated. “It don’t matter; we’re ready to go.”