2018 MAC Tournament: Toledo sneaks by upset minded Miami (OH) to advance to semifinals

The Toledo Rockets came into the Cleveland portion of the MAC Tournament off a loss to Eastern Michigan. They almost took another loss at the Q on Thursday night.

A Nike Sibande three-pointer sailed over the Miami (OH) basket as time expired with the Redhawks down just two. Sibande, a freshman from Indianapolis nailed two late threes to pull the Redhawks within three. The MAC Freshman of the Year put up a team-high 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to ground the Rockets.

“I just feel like I just don’t like to lose, so I just did what I did. I just knew to shoot the ball or get ’em up constantly. That’s really it.”, said Sibande about his two late three-pointers.

The biggest story from this game had nothing to do with the outcome, however. MAC Player of the Year Tre’Shaun Fletcher left the game in the second half favoring his left leg. Fletcher was able to come back into the game, but the injury did not look great at first glance.

Rockets Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk offered this update on Fletcher after the game, “I don’t, but I’ve got a lot of faith in our trainer Brian Jones, he’s the best in college basketball. They wouldn’t have put him back in the game if they thought it was a serious injury, so initial diagnosis, he’s going to be fine.”

When asked if he expects Fletcher to play tomorrow against the winner of the Eastern Michigan and Akron game Kowalczyk said, “I fully expect him to, yes.”

Toledo swept the Zips in both meetings this season and split the season series with the Eagles. Tipoff for the game will be 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Kent State and Buffalo contest tomorrow evening.

Be sure to keep it locked on blacksquirrelradio.com all weekend for coverage of the MAC Tournament from downtown Cleveland.