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The 8th seed Central Michigan Chippewas strike first in this quarter final matchup thanks to number three Harrison Henderson. The 1st seed Toledo Rockets would respond with seven straight points, five of those seven coming from Ryan Rollins.
The first five minutes of the game would be both teams trading baskets, 10-9 would be the score going into the first timeout. The Chippewas would take the lead from a three by the Junior wing Brian Taylor. This lead would be short lived, Kooper Jacobi would take the lead for the Rockets for the moments.
15-15 would be the score as we would see the momentum shift back and forth as both teams try to get in a groove. As the half would progress both teams would go back and forth the entire way.
It would be the chip’s that would get the upper edge against the one seed. The duo of Taylor and Henderson would combine for 21 of the Chips 32 points in the first half. The Chips would shoot 33.3 percent from field, making 5 of 15. They would struggle from the field as a whole, only shooting only 37.5 percent
Rollins would be the leader for the Rockets with eight points as they would trail coming into the second half. The Rockets would shoot 20 percent from three and 35.5 percent from the field.
The Chips would lead the Rockets 32-30 at the end of first half.
After a few missed shots from both teams to start the half, we would see both teams trading blows as the Chips would carry a one point lead. This lead (like the ones before) wouldn’t hold as both teams would trade the lead back and forth.
The tempo would continue to be fast paced nonstop action that the MAC is known for. Toledo would secure a five-point lead for the minute, a layup from Setric Millner jr. and a free throw from Ra’Heim Moss would give that lead to the Rockets.
The Chips would pull within two then fall behind by six in a blink of an eye. Cameron Healy would attempt a three but get fouled in the process as the three would fall short. The score would sit at 58-52 in favor of the Rockets with seven minutes left.
Healy would hit all three free throws; JT Shumate would respond right back with a three. The Chips would respond again with a two, before you know it the Rockets launch their way up the court and hit another three from Millner Jr.
The MACsanity would continue as Henderson would slam one home for the Chips as the crowd would jump out of their seats.
Both teams would trade baskets back and forth since the seven-minute mark, we would sit at 68-61, the Rockets have a lead and look to manage it for 3:24 seconds in hopes to advance to the semi-final round.
With just about a minute left the Rockets lead would shrink to just four as Millner Jr. would miss both free throws to extend the lead. Henderson would make a layup and get fouled; he would hit the free throw making the lead 70-69 with just 32 seconds left.
Ralph Bissainthe would find Henderson under the basket to take the lead for the Chips. The Rockets wouldn’t shy away, the Junior guard RayJ Dennis would make a sweet floater to retake the lead with just ten seconds we would sit at 72-71.
The Chips would inbound the ball, it would bounce off the leg of Henderson and would turn the ball over with nine seconds left. This would be the fatal blow for the Chips as they fall to the Rockets 72-71 in a well fought battle.
Harrison Henderson was the player of the game for the Central Michigan Chippewas, he would score 21 points going 8-15 from the field and eight rebounds.
Setric Millner Jr. scored 22 points and earned the victory for the Toledo Rockets going 10-17 from the field.
Toledo will advance to the MAC semi-final as they face the winner of 4th seed Akron Zips and the 5th seed Buffalo Bulls.
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