Toledo rolls past the University of Northwestern Ohio 106-36

Nov. 30—Toledo might be home from the Bahamas, but the Rockets looked like the same team that won three games in three days last week.

UT returned to Savage Arena for the first time in 16 days Monday and treated the home fans to an offensive explosion, defeating the University of Northwestern Ohio 106-36.

"Oh man, it felt great," junior forward Setric Millner, Jr., said. "To come home and win by a large margin like that is always great."

It's the largest margin of victory in program history, surpassing a 107-43 win over Indiana Northwest in 2011. Toledo has not reached the 100-point mark since a 100-41 victory over Northwestern Ohio in November of 2019. UNOH's 36 points were the second-fewest in Savage Arena (35, Cornell in 1976).

The Lima, Ohio, school competes in the NAIA, and Monday's game was an exhibition for the Racers.

A sluggish start gave way to an onslaught of points as UT turned an 11-11 tie into a 51-19 halftime lead, ending the first half on a 40-8 run over the final 14 minutes, 27 seconds.

The second half was even more impressive, with Toledo (5-1) distancing itself from the Racers by making 22 of 35 field goal attempts. The Rockets outscored UNOH 55-17 after halftime.

"The continuity that we were playing with — I'm not saying the score of defense wasn't important — but just seeing guys working together and the ball moving and guys making the extra pass, we had 22 assists," associate head coach Jeff Massey said. "I was more impressed with the way we played together and the ball not sticking. Sometimes in a game like this when the score gets lopsided, guys can make it a free-for-all."

Massey stepped in for head coach Tod Kowalczyk, who was tending to his ailing father. This is just the second game Kowalczyk has missed in 12 seasons at the helm of the Rockets.

"There were some jitters early on, not being in this situation, pushing all the buttons, doing the things that coach would have done, and trying to stick to the game plan," Massey said. "It was a little different with me being in that seat."

Eight UT players scored in the first half, 10 for the game. Six were in double figures, led by Millner's 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

RayJ Dennis (five assists) and J.T. Shumate had 14 points, Ryan Rollins (seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals) scored 12, and Ra'Heim Moss (seven rebounds) and Keyshaun Saunders each had 11 points. Toledo shot 62.3 percent and made eight of 19 three-point attempts.

"To have a quick day or two off and to get right back in it, I think guys needed to move around and they were anxious to get back on the floor," Massey said. "It was good."

Equally as impressive as the offense was Toledo's aggressive, no-nonsense defense. UT forced 22 turnovers, contributing to 27 points. Six Rockets had at least one steal.

Northwestern Ohio (2-7) shot 26.8 percent and was two of 20 from beyond the arc. It scored 0.493 points per possession.

"We always put a huge emphasis on our defense," Millner said. "Get a stop, and then go down and try to play fast. I don't think we did anything different. We just got stops."

Toledo will get its biggest test of the season on Saturday with a trip to the raucous Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich., to take on No. 22 Michigan State (5-2). It's an opportunity for the Rockets to secure a signature victory, helping boost a potential NCAA tournament at-large resume, and get an early glimpse at where they stand among college basketball's blue bloods.

"I think before every opponent that we have a lot of things to work on," Millner said. "We're trying to get better every day, game after game. Whenever you're playing a Power Five school, it's always exciting. It'll be a great test for us."

First Published November 29, 2021, 8:51pm