Rockets get thumped by Vermont

11/30/2009

PHILADELPHIA - Early foul trouble led to a second straight slow start and Toledo (0-6) could not recover as the Rockets dropped an 82-49 decision to Vermont (3-4) in their final game of the three-day Legends Classic.

"Playing three straight days was a grind for our guys, and this weekend was a good lesson for us," said Toledo coach Gene Cross. "We're experiencing a lot of the things for the first time right now, and a tournament like this is one of them. We have to develop a mental toughness to play this type of format, because that's what we'll have to do in our conference tournament."

The Rockets' tandem of freshmen Jordan Dressler and Jake Barnett led UT offensively for a second straight contest with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Dressler also added a team-high six rebounds.

"It was good to see Jordan and Jake enjoy some success today and continue in their growth process," Cross said. "They're both a big part of our future. It's tough to lose, but if we continue to work hard and stay the course we'll start experiencing success."

Senior Maurice Joseph paced the Catamount attack with 21 points. Vermont shot 50.8 percent for the contest, including a 56.7 mark in the first half. UT converted 37.3 percent of its field-goal attempts and also was outrebounded by a 39-34 margin.

Toledo took a quick 4-2 lead on baskets from Barnett and Dressler, but Dressler was then whistled for two quick fouls less than two minutes into the game and was forced to take a seat on the bench.

In a wild finish, Schoolcraft Community College nipped the Owens women 66-65 yesterday at Owens to hand the Express their first loss of the season.

Schoolcraft, the No. 2-ranked team in NJCAA Division II, led by 10 points at halftime, but Owens managed a rally to go ahead late in the second half. Schoolcraft came back to tie the game and the teams then exchanged leads until, with 3.6 seconds left, Angela Beard of Schoolcraft drew a charge and connected from the free-throw line for the final margin.

Jasmine Blanton had 21 for Owens (7-1). Demi Moschetti scored 11 and Ashley Hooker 10 for Owens, which went into the game rated eighth in the poll.