KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Despite a 21-point performance from junior
Rafael Cruz Jr., the Western Michigan men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 68-59 decision to Mid-American Conference West Division foe Toledo on Saturday afternoon inside University Arena.
It was a back and forth battle between the two MAC West foes as the Broncos embarked on a 12-2 run late in the second half to take a 57-55 lead with 3:15 remaining. Toledo responded with five straight points to regain the lead before freshman
Titus Wright knocked down two free-throws to cut the Toledo lead down to one with 1:30 to play.
On the ensuing possession, Toledo's Keshaun Spencer connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key with a minute left to extend the Rocket lead to 63-59. The three highlighted an 8-0 run for Toledo during the final 1:28 of play to secure the nine-point victory.
Offensively the Broncos were led by Cruz Jr.'s 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Cruz Jr. also knocked down a season-high five three-pointers, one shy of his career-high. The Chicago, Ill. native ranked second on the team with seven rebounds to go along with two assists. It was the second 20-point performance for Cruz Jr. this season and the eighth game scoring in double figures.
For the second straight game fellow junior
Brandon Johnson registered a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson was just 3-of-11 from the field but a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Johnson now has five double-doubles on the season and is averaging 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over the past three games.
Rounding out the double-digit scoring trio for the Broncos was Wright with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Wright ranked third on the team with six rebounds along with one assist and one steal. The duo of freshman
B. Artis White and junior
Michael Flowers each registered seven points against the Rockets with Flowers earning four rebounds while White had three. The backcourt duo combined for four of WMU's eight total assists.
As a team the Broncos shot 32.8 percent from the field and were 7-of-24 from long distance. Western Michigan outrebounded Toledo, 37-35, and held a 9-5 advantage on the offensive glass. WMU committed 10 turnovers to Toledo's seven with the Rockets scoring 17 points off of Bronco miscues.
The back and forth battle between the Broncos and Rockets resulted in nine ties and 16 lead changes. Neither team led by more than nine with WMU holding the lead for nearly 21 minutes of action.
With the loss Western Michigan now has an overall record of 11-16 and is 4-10 in conference play. WMU hits the road for its next contest, traveling to Muncie, Ind., for a match-up against Ball State on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Broncos return home on Saturday, Feb. 29 for a showdown against Northern Illinois.
The two teams traded baskets early on in the first half before Cruz Jr. made the first of his five threes on the night to give WMU a 7-4 lead at the 17-minute mark. Later on WMU gained a 12-9 advantage with 13:46 to play in the first half as the Brown & Gold made five of their first seven field goals.
Toledo earned its first lead of the game at the halfway point of the first half after two technical foul free-throws. Midway through the first half, WMU went just 1-of-10 from the field, but held a slim 18-17 lead thanks to two free-throws from Johnson. Down the stretch, Flowers made a pair of free-throws to give WMU a 29-28 lead at halftime.
The Broncos embarked on a 9-0 run early in the second half to grab a 38-30 lead before the Rockets responded with six straight points to cut the Bronco lead down to two at the first media timeout of the second half. It was once again a hot start for the WMU offense, making five of its first six field goals to hold a 40-36 lead with 15:08 remaining.
Over the next five minutes the Rockets' offense came to life, making five of the next seven field goals to earn a 45-43 lead at the halfway point of the second half. Ultimately, Toledo held the Broncos scoreless for over five minutes as the Rockets extended their lead to 47-43 with 8:27 remaining.
Western Michigan rallied and cut its deficit down to two prior to the Rockets nailing back-to-back three-pointers to widen their lead to 53-45 with seven minutes to go. Trailing by eight, the Broncos embarked on a 12-2 run highlighted by a corner three from Cruz Jr. to regain the lead at 57-55 with 3:15 left to play.
Toledo answered with five straight points to regain the lead prior to Wright making two free-throws with 1:30 remaining to cut WMU's deficit down to 60-59. On the ensuing possession, Toledo's Saunders knocked down three from the top of the key to give Toledo a five-point advantage with under a minute to play.
Down the stretch, Toledo embarked on an 8-0 run while holding WMU scoreless from the field the final 2:36 of play to secure the 68-59 victory.
