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TOLEDO, OH Toledo fought hard in Head Coach Tod Kowalczyks Savage Arena debut, but UT couldnt get quite over the hump on Friday evening in a 57-51 setback to the University of Illinois - Chicago. The contest was the Rockets first in three days in a sub-regional of the 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.
Senior F Anthony Wright paced the Rockets (0-3) offensively with 15 points and was 4-of-8 from behind the three-point arc. Redshirt freshman F Hayden Humes notched his first career double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to help UT register a 33-29 advantage on the boards. Freshman point guard J.T. Thomas also was in double figures and tallied 10 points and four assists in his collegiate debut.
Senior G Robo Kreps topped the Flames with 20 points with senior F Paul Carter (14 pts.) and junior G Zavion Neely (10 pts.) also in double figures.
Toledo, which started four freshmen and never held a lead in the contest, was hampered by a 56.5 free-throw percentage, converting just 13-of-23 attempts from the charity stripe. UIC was the exact opposite, draining 14-of-16 for an impressive 87.5 mark. Field-goal percentage was virtually even with UIC knocking down 19-of-48 (39.6 percent) and UT hitting 17-of-43 (39.5 percent).
UT had a chance to tie the score at 52-52 with 39 seconds to play but freshman G Reese Holliday couldnt convert on the second of two free throws. Carter knocked down two free throws eight seconds later to give the visitors a three-point cushion. Wright tried to even the contest but his three-point attempt was off the mark, and the Rockets couldnt come any closer.
Toledo will be back in action Saturday night when it faces Rhode Island (2-1) at 7:00 p.m. The Rams defeated the College of Charleston (2-2) in Fridays opening game by a 75-66 margin.
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