Toledo's Larry Bastfield is pressured by Alabama defenders. Below, Josh Freelove heads for the hoop. Photos by Nate Thompson.
TOLEDO, OH - Alabama's size and quickness were too much for a youthful Toledo squad to overcome as the Rockets (3-11) fell by a 67-50 margin to the Crimson Tide (10-4) in Savage Arena Monday night.
"Alabama is a solid basketball team and we knew handling the basketball was going to be a challenge for us tonight," Toledo Head Coach Gene Cross said. "The ballgame came down to getting stops, which we didn't do, and they ended up shooting 50 percent. We're continuing to learn that we have to hang our hat on the defensive end, and that's what we need to do if we're going to be successful."
Freshman guard Jake Barnett paced the Rockets' attack with 13 points with junior forward Justin Anyijong was also in double figures with 10 points. Senior guard Mikhail Torrance led the way for Alabama with a game-high 19 points.
Toledo was able to out-rebound the visitors by a 33-29 margin and also equaled its season low with 11 turnovers. The Rockets received a balanced effort on the boards with Anyijong, Barnett, freshman F Jordan Dressler and freshman G Josh Freelove each hauling down five rebounds.
"Even though we lost I think there were some positives we can take from this game," Cross said. "I was proud of how we rebounded against an athletic team like Alabama is, and to only turn the ball over 11 times against their defense is something we can build on."
Toledo was able to remain within striking distance early in the contest and trailed 16-11 following a pair of Anyijong free throws with 9:24 remaining in the opening stanza. The
Crimson Tide followed with an 8-0 run to extend their advantage to double digits, and it remained that way the rest of the evening.
Alabama held a 34-19 advantage at intermission and quickly extended it by scoring the first seven points of the second half. Toledo battled back with an 11-2 spurt to climb within 51-37 with 9:25 to play. The Rockets were able to reduce their deficit to 13 points on three different occasions down the stretch but could get closer.
Cross and the Rockets will now set their sights on the opening of Mid-American Conference play this weekend after going through a rigorous non-conference slate.
"I think we've gone through many ups and downs during our first 14 games and we've grown to the point where we've learned how to compete," Cross said. "I know we will come out and fight every single game, and if we can give an effort and be poised like we were in the second half tonight we can be a good team. We just need to be more consistent and continue to grow defensively."
UT will host Central Michigan Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader. The Rocket women will face CMU in the first game at noon. Both contests will be televised on FSN Ohio. Courtesy: Toledo Athletics
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