TOLEDO, Ohio — In an exhilarating matchup on Saturday, Sam Lewis led the Toledo Rockets to a narrow 89-85 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies by scoring an impressive 23 points.

Lewis showcased his all-around contribution, grabbing seven rebounds along with his scoring for Toledo, which holds a record of 13-8 and is 7-2 in the Mid-American Conference.

Also stepping up for the Rockets, Sonny Wilson added 19 points and pulled down six rebounds. Meanwhile, Bryce Ford was particularly efficient, going 4 of 5 from the field and hitting all six of his free-throw attempts to contribute 14 points to the team’s total.

On the other side, Nasir Muhammad led the Huskies, who now sit at 5-16 with a 1-8 record in the conference, by scoring 21 points and dishing out five assists.

Quaran McPherson was another key player for Northern Illinois, scoring 20 points and securing seven rebounds, while Quentin Jones made his presence felt with 18 points, four assists, and three blocks.

Toledo jumped out to a strong start, heading into the halftime break with a solid 50-35 lead. Wilson particularly shone in the first half, accumulating 14 points.

As the second half unfolded, Toledo extended its advantage with a 9-2 run, creating a comfortable 13-point gap at 81-68 with just 2:23 remaining on the clock, ultimately sealing the victory.

This match highlighted the competitive spirit of the Mid-American Conference as both teams fought hard, but Toledo’s balanced scoring and effective play down the stretch secured their crucial win.