Toledo Rockets vs. Akron Zips men's basketball final score: Juice with another game-winner, Rockets win late 68-66

Julius Brown has shown the ability in the past to be tremendously clutch for the Toledo Rockets, but a fade away game winning jumper to take down the host Akron Zips may go down as one of the senior's most brilliant plays.   With the game tied at 66, Brown took the inbounds past, dribbled to his left and drilled the high arching jump shot over the outstretched defender with just 1.7 seconds remaining.  The Zips would get off a desperation three point attempt from Kwan Cheatham Jr., but that attempt was off target and the Rockets picked up a key road victory 68-66.

With the win the Rockets moved to 9-4 in conference play, which includes a 5-1 record away from home, while the Zips fell to 8-5.  With Bowling Green losing at home to Miami, Toledo is once again in a first place tie atop the MAC.

Brown, the Rockets leading scorer, led the visitors with 21 points and Nathan Boothe and J.D. Weatherspoon contributed 16 and 11 respectively.  The contributions from both Weatherspoon and Boothe were much needed as Justin Drummond and Jonathan Williams were each held to just 4 points on a combined 2-13 shooting.

Toledo would take a 38-36 lead heading into the halftime break, despite shooting just 1-8 from three point range in the first twenty minutes.  The Zips closed the first half on a much needed 15-8 run, after trailing by as many as nine early on.

The second half was closely contested throughout, with both teams exchanging the lead during the course of the final twelve minutes.  A Reggie McAdams three pointer with just over three minutes to play would tie the game at 66, but prove to be the Zips final points of the game.

Making his first career start, Zips' guard Antino Jackson would contribute a career high 14 points, but added only 2 points in the second half.  Center Pat Forsythe was held to just 8 points for Zips on just 9 shot attempts, while Deji Ibatayo would add 11 off the Zips' bench.

Toledo will look to continue their winning ways away from home as they head to Western Michigan on Saturday, while Akron will host Miami.

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