Jackson Scores Career High, Zips Fall to Rockets, 99-89

Saturday, January 18

Akron, Ohio

2 PM

University of Akron

14-4,4-1MAC

Toledo

10-8,2-3MAC

Toledo

Akron

Jackson Scores Career High, Zips Fall to Rockets, 99-89

January 18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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Post Game Press Conference

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips suffered their first home loss - and first Mid-American Conference loss - of the season as the visiting Toledo Rockets earned a 99-89 road win Saturday afternoon at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Junior Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) led Akron with a career-best 33 points in the loss and senior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) added 19 for the Zips to go with seven assists and five rebounds. Senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) notched his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Toledo was able to pull out the win with a strong finish to the game, going on a late 7-0 run to help deal Akron its first home defeat of the season. It was a seesaw game that saw both teams hold - and lose - double-digit leads as run after run swung the momentum, setting up the dramatic finish.

After a quick 4-0 burst to end the first half, the Zips (14-4, 4-1 MAC) came out of the halftime break breathing fire, uncorking a 16-2 run that erased a 10-point Toledo halftime lead and put the hosts in front at 52-48 less than four minutes into the second half.

A driving, twisting layup from the right block by Cheese on a fast break started by the third forced turnover of the second half by the Zips gave Akron its first lead since the 8:22 mark of the first half at 50-48.

By ratcheting up its defensive intensity, Akron was able to erase memories of a first half in which Toledo missed just nine shots and committed only three turnovers. However, the Rockets (10-8, 2-3 MAC) had the last word by shooting 56.9 percent for the day, including 57.7 percent from 3-point range and 91.7 percent from the foul line.

That intense Akron defense temporarily muted what had been a potent Toledo attack to that point and set the table for a whiplash-inducing change of momentum that saw the Zips go from a double-digit deficit to a double-digit lead in less than 6:30 of game time.

Jackson capped the impressive turnaround with a fast break 3-pointer that brought the home crowd to its feet and prompted a timeout by the frazzled Rockets.

It was a twist of fate from an opening 20 minutes, in which the Rockets seemingly could not miss, tallying 65.4-percent (17-of-26) shooting, including 7 of 13 from long distance, the highest shooting percentage the Zips have allowed in a first half this season.

Senior center Luke Knapke and junior guard Marreon Jackson led the expert marksmanship for the visitors, with each making three 3-pointers before intermission and combining for 24 points in the half.

Akron did its best to stay within shouting distance as Toledo staged a big run to end the first half, using a 15-10 rebounding edge and a buzzer-beating trifetca from the right wing by Banks to narrow their deficit to 10 points, 46-36, heading to the locker room.

Jackson led Toledo with 36 points on the afternoon to top the Rockets, with senior forward Willie Jackson adding 23 and Knapke 19.

Akron heads out on the road for its next contest, traveling southwest to Oxford to take on the Miami RedHawks on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on 1350-AM.