by CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Toledo Rockets put their skills to the test on Thursday by meeting the Northern Illinois Huskies in a quarterfinal showing. Toledo came in with the second-seed of the tournament, as the Huskies sat in the seventh spot of the MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Northern Illinois led for most of the first half as Eugene German had a smooth run to begin the game. German knocked down seven of his ten shots for eighteen points, including four three-pointers. Jaelan Sanford and Nate Navigato both coupled eleven points but it wasn’t enough to lead at the break.
The Huskies took a 41-39 lead into the second half, shooting 55.2% from the floor and 61.5% from the perimeter.
In such a battle that may have stood as the best contest of the round, the Huskies eked out a victory by trading haymakers with the Rockets, 80-76. German had 27 points and seven rebounds, with Dante Thorpe scoring 18 points and Levi Bradley adding thirteen.
For Toledo, five different guys scored in double-figures in the loss.
