The Toledo Rockets (19-14, 11-7) defeated the UMass Minutemen (17-16, 7-11) in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men’s Basketball Tournament, 77-67.
“When you get to a conference semifinal game, you are playing against another really good team, you’re getting their best and the best referees in the league, on a neutral site, with an unbelievable atmosphere,” Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk said.
Toledo stormed out of the gates, going on a 13-2 run, with MAC Freshman of the Year Leory Blyden Jr starting the run in the first four minutes of the game.
However, the Minutemen did not go away quietly as they rallied back with a 16-4 run, taking a 27-26 lead.
During run, freshman guard Danny Carbuccia and Dimitri Clerc led UMass with four points apiece.
A first half for the Rockets shooting 60.7% from the field and 50% from deep gave them a 43-34 lead over the Minutemen.
Sonny Wilson led the Rockets at halftime with 10 points, while both Sean Craig and Blyden added eight. Leonardo Bettiol paced UMass with 11 points and three rebounds, with Carbuccia adding seven points and three rebounds.
Out of the break, the two teams traded baskets, with neither side grabbing a commanding lead.
A Rockets 11-4 run extended the lead to 15, with the score sitting at 61-46 with 13:25 left to play.
UMass worked their way back into the game with a 10-7 run led by Bettiol, who scored four points during the run.
During the final two minutes of play, the Rockets held UMass to just one made basket—a Marcus Banks Jr three.
“I just think from start to finish, we played exceptionally hard, really guarded,” Kowalczyk said postgame.
Wilson led the Toledo charge, finishing with 18 points and four assists. But not to be out done was Mynor Strong, who had 17 points and five rebounds. Craig led the Rockets in rebounding with 11 boards and added 15 points.
Bettiol led the Minutemen with 21 points and six rebounds, while Carbuccia added 11 points, four rebounds and five assists. It was another rough shooting night for UMass, as they shot only 20% from behind the arc, finishing 7-of-20 from three.
“You got to score. When you shot 41% from the field, 19% from three and 52% from the line, you’re not beating Toledo with those offensive numbers,” UMass head coach Frank Martin said.
The Rocket move on to the championship game for the first time since 2023, when they lost to Kent State. They will play the Akron Zips at 8 p.m. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Tyler Kavalecz, Artie Abrego and Foster Roesti will have the radio broadcast on Falcon Radio, streaming on bgfalconmedia.com.
