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TOLEDO, Ohio -- David Kool hit 13-of-13 free throws on his way to a game-high 22 points and Shawntes Gary added 12 points to become the 34th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points, but Western Michigan couldn't complete its comeback against Toledo, 63-62, in front of 7,036 at Savage Arena on Saturday night.
The Broncos (9-19, 6-8 MAC) had opportunities in the final minute to take the lead against the Rockets (6-23, 4-10 MAC), but just couldn't get the play they needed. After forcing a missed three-pointer by Anthony Byrd, Kool had a chance to give WMU the lead, but missed with 13 seconds remaining.
Byrd hit a pair of free throws to put Toledo up three, 63-60, but Kool countered with two free throws of his own with five seconds left to cut the lead to one again. The Broncos then put Toledo's leading scorer, Tyrone Kent, on the line and he missed two free throws with four seconds to play, but Jonathan Amos cut across the lane to secure the offensive rebound and run out the clock.
Senior Derek Drews joined Kool and Gary in double figures with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Martelle McLemore added nine points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal off the bench, while Donald Lawson pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. The Bronco reserves produced a 22-4 advantage over their Toledo counterparts.
The Broncos shot 34.5% (20-58) and only 5-of-24 (.208) from behind the three-point line. They did connect on 81 percent from the charity stripe (17-21). Toledo hit 21-of-52 shots (.404) and only 4-of-22 three-pointers (.182), while converting 17-of-24 free throws (.708). The Rockets also forced 15 turnovers that turned into a 24-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
Western Michigan pulled down 18 offensive rebounds, but allowed 14 and only outscored Toledo by two, 11-9, in second-chance points.
The Rockets opened the game in a box-and-one defense focused on Kool that helped them stake a 10-1 lead. Kool hit a three-pointer, Drews scored in the paint and Gary hit a three-pointer as part of an 8-0 run to pull within one, 10-9, with 14:23 to play.
The Rockets then scored seven straight in 1:24 to go back up by eight, 17-9, with 12:13 remaining in the half. Toledo continued to keep WMU at bay and still led by nine, 26-17, with 4:29 to go in the half. Kool then hit a pair of freebies and McLemore drained a triple to get WMU back within four, 26-22, with 4:06 to go. The Broncos, however, would not hit another field goal the rest of the half. The Broncos made 9-of-10 free throws, including eight by Kool, over that span, but trailed by seven, 38-31, at halftime.
Toledo turned the ball over to start the second half and Drews canned a three-ball to start a 13-5 run that gave WMU its only lead of the night, 44-43, after a McLemore free throw with 13:16 to go in the game. McLemore scored five points, pulled down four rebounds and assisted on a Michael Redell three during the run.
The Broncos couldn't build the lead as Toledo had a one-minute possession with three offensive rebounds before WMU could get the ball back. McLemore missed a three-pointer that would have extended the lead. On the ensuing break, Kent hit a three-pointer of his own and Toledo regained the lead, 46-44, for good with 11:55 to play.
Western Michigan could never regain the momentum and Toledo eventually built a 10-point lead, 61-51, with 3:21 to play after a jumper by Kent. The Broncos wouldn't allow another free throw the rest of the game during their final run.
Lawson started things off with a reverse layup on a feed by Kool and then Kool and Gary hit back-to-back jumpers to make it a four-point game, 61-57, with 2:15 to go. The Rockets missed two shots and turned the ball over before Kool converted a three-point play with 55 seconds left to pull WMU within one, 61-60, but they would come no closer.
Kent led Toledo with 21 points, Mohamed Lo added 18 points and seven rebounds and Amos produced 13 points and six rebounds.
The Broncos remain one game behind Ball State in the Mid-American Conference West, but can pull into a first place tie with the Cardinals when the two teams meet in Kalamazoo on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
