Toledo Basketball Survives Thriller Over Bowling Green in MAC Tournament

Rockets advance to semifinals after nail-biting 77-76 win over rival Falcons

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:05am

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In a thrilling Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinal matchup, the Toledo Rockets narrowly defeated the Bowling Green Falcons 77-76 in a game that came down to the final seconds. Freshman guard Leroy Blyden Jr. led the way for Toledo with 23 points, including four 3-pointers, to help the Rockets overcome a late Bowling Green comeback attempt.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Toledo's hopes alive for an NCAA Tournament berth, as the Rockets now advance to the MAC semifinals. The win also continues the intense rivalry between the two northwest Ohio schools, with the game living up to the high-stakes drama of March Madness basketball.

The details

Toledo came out strong, building an early 12-4 lead and extending it to as much as 12 points in the first half. However, Bowling Green rallied after star player Javontae Campbell picked up two quick fouls and had to sit for most of the first half. The Falcons eventually took the lead late, but Blyden hit a pair of clutch free throws to put Toledo back on top. In the final seconds, Bowling Green had a chance to win it, but Justin Thomas' last-second shot bounced off the rim, allowing Toledo to escape with the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 12, 2026 as part of the first round of the MAC tournament.

The players

Leroy Blyden Jr.

A sensational freshman guard for Toledo who scored a game-high 23 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Rockets to victory.

Javontae Campbell

Bowling Green's star player, who was limited in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.

Tod Kowalczyk

The head coach of the Toledo Rockets, who guided his team to the narrow win over their rival.

Todd Simon

The head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons, whose team nearly pulled off the upset before falling short.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't play great, but we found a way to win.”

— Tod Kowalczyk, Toledo Head Coach

“It was in.”

— Javontae Campbell, Bowling Green Star Player

“With coach trusting in me, if he wants me with the ball, I'm not going to shy away from it.”

— Leroy Blyden Jr., Toledo Freshman Guard

What’s next

Toledo will now face 8th-seeded UMass in the MAC tournament semifinals, with a chance to advance to the championship game and potentially earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

This thrilling victory over rival Bowling Green showcases the high-stakes drama and excitement of March Madness basketball, as Toledo survived a late comeback attempt to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Rockets' path to the NCAA Tournament has suddenly become clearer, but they will need to continue to get big performances from star players like Leroy Blyden Jr. to make a deep tournament run.