TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — Toledo used a dominant first half to cruise past Eastern Michigan 94-75 in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Savage Hall. The Rockets built a 51-29 halftime lead behind balanced scoring, withstanding a 21-point effort from Eastern Michigan’s Mohammad Habhab. Leroy Blyden led Toledo with 15 points and eight assists, while Will James added 13 points off the bench. The Eagles’ Habhab finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Toledo improved to 14-13 overall, while Eastern Michigan fell to 10-17. An announced crowd of 5,429 watched the Rockets shoot efficiently from the field to secure the victory.

TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — In a game defined by blistering offensive efficiency and a dominant first-half performance, the Toledo Rockets cruised to a 94-75 victory over the Eastern Michigan Eagles in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Savage Hall. A crowd of 5,429 watched as Toledo (14-13, 8-6 MAC) seized control from the opening tip, building a 51-29 halftime lead that Eastern Michigan (10-17, 5-9) could never seriously threaten. The Rockets shot a scorching 67.3% from the field for the game, including a 14-of-22 performance in the opening period, to bury the Eagles early. The most important part of the contest was Toledo’s overwhelming start, which established a tempo and a deficit from which Eastern Michigan could not recover. The Rockets scored on their first four possessions, opening a 10-2 lead within the first three minutes. They continued to pour it on, extending the advantage to 22 points by halftime. This early surge was fueled by Toledo’s exceptional ball movement, which resulted in nine assists on 14 first-half field goals, and a stifling defense that forced eight Eastern Michigan turnovers, converting them into easy transition opportunities. The Rockets outscored the Eagles 27-16 in fastbreak points for the game, with many of those coming during the decisive opening stanza. Eastern Michigan showed more fight after halftime, scoring 46 points in the second half, but could never cut the deficit below 15 points as Toledo’s offense continued to operate with precision, answering every Eagle push. Toledo’s offensive execution was nearly flawless, scoring 94 points on just 70 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 133.4. They dominated inside, outscoring Eastern Michigan 54-38 in the paint. The Rockets were led by a balanced attack, with six players scoring in double figures. Leroy Blyden, a guard from Detroit, was the catalyst, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Sean Craig added 13 points and five rebounds, while Austin Parks contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. Will James provided a spark off the bench with 13 points and four assists, and Sonny Wilson also chipped in 15 points. Eastern Michigan was led by a valiant effort from forward Mohammad Habhab of Dearborn, Michigan, who posted a game-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes. Mehki Ellison added 12 points off the bench. The Eagles shot a respectable 45.8% from the field and 88.2% from the free-throw line, but were simply outgunned by Toledo’s historic shooting performance. The Eagles also committed 13 turnovers, which the Rockets converted into 18 points. The victory moves Toledo above .500 for the season and keeps them in the thick of the MAC standings. Eastern Michigan, which had won its previous game against Central Michigan, sees its record dip further below .500 as it continues a challenging conference slate. According to pregame analytics from National Statistical, Toledo was projected with an 82.6% probability to win and was installed as an 8.5-point favorite. The combined score of 169 points sailed over the over/under line of 145. Toledo will look to build on this performance when it hosts Northern Illinois on Tuesday. Eastern Michigan returns home to face Miami (Ohio) on the same night.

Preview: Eastern Michigan at Toledo in MAC Men’s Basketball TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — Two Mid-American Conference men’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Toledo Rockets host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Savage Hall. The Rockets (13-13, 4-9 MAC), seeking to return to .500 in league play, have dropped three of their last four contests. Their most recent outing was a 70-80 loss at Bowling Green on Feb. 14, despite a 20-point, 7-rebound effort from guard Sonny Wilson. The sophomore has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 16.4 points over his last seven games. Eastern Michigan (10-16, 5-8) arrives with momentum from a 66-54 home victory over Central Michigan on Tuesday, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. The Eagles’ defense held the Chippewas to 30.4% shooting, with Godslove Nwabude contributing 16 points and three blocks. The matchup features two of the conference’s top guards. Eastern Michigan’s Addison Patterson is averaging 18.1 points over his last eight games, including a 32-point outburst in a narrow loss at Kent State on Feb. 11. Toledo will counter with Wilson, who leads the Rockets in scoring and has dished at least three assists in five of the last seven games. Toledo won the season’s first meeting, 78-71, in Ypsilanti on Jan. 6. The Rockets have dominated the recent series, winning nine of the last ten matchups. For Toledo, a win is crucial to improve its seeding for the upcoming MAC tournament. The Rockets have been strong at home in conference play, with notable wins over Ball State and Bowling Green. Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, looks to build on its recent defensive performance and string together consecutive wins for the first time since late December. Saturday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. EST. Toledo hosts Northern Illinois next on Tuesday, while Eastern Michigan returns home to face Miami (Ohio) the same night.