Toledo to host Robert Morris March 17 in CIT Second Round

March 15, 2012 | News, UToday
By Steve Easton



The Toledo men’s basketball program will host Robert Morris at Savage Arena Saturday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in the second round of the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

Julius Brown and the Rockets will play Robert Morris Saturday, March 17, at 2 p.m. in Savage Arena.

The Rockets (19-16) posted a 76-63 home victory over McNeese State on Tuesday, while the Colonials (25-10) won at Indiana State, 67-60.

Tickets for the game are on sale at the Savage Arena Ticket Office or by calling 419.530.GOLD (4653). Ticket prices are $14 and $10. UT students will be admitted free with their valid ID courtesy of the President’s Office. UT employees may purchase two half-price tickets.

Toledo was originally scheduled to play at Oakland Saturday. The Grizzlies now will host Buffalo at 2 p.m. Saturday.

UT has enjoyed one of the top turnaround seasons in the country under second-year Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. After posting a 4-28 mark last year, the Rockets have won 19 games this season to tie USC-Upstate for the biggest win improvement in the nation.

UT finished 7-2 over its final nine games before falling to eventual tourney champion Ohio in the MAC Quarterfinals. Sophomore guard Rian Pearson leads Toledo with 16.4 points (tied for second in MAC), 8.5 rebounds (third) and 1.6 steals (eighth) per game, and the second-team all-league selection is the only player in the Mid-American Conference to rank in the league’s Top 10 in all three categories.

The Rockets have two more players scoring in double figures: junior guard and honorable-mention All-MAC honoree Curtis Dennis (12.8 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game) and MAC Freshman of the Year Julius Brown (12.0 points per game, 5.0 assists per game).

Oakland has appeared in post-season play the last four years, including NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011. Senior guard Reggie Hamilton leads the nation in scoring with 26.1 points per game, while sophomore guard Travis Bader ranks fourth nationally with 3.4 three-point field goals per game.

The CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament is a single-elimination tournament, consisting of 32 schools, with all games played on campus sites. The quarterfinals will be played March 19-21, semifinals March 22-24 and championship game March 28.

Click to access the login or register cheese