TOLEDO, Ohio — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday, Sam Lewis led the Toledo Rockets to a narrow victory over the James Madison Dukes with a final score of 72-69. Lewis had a standout performance, scoring 22 points and grabbing five rebounds, helping the Rockets improve their record to 15-8 overall and 8-2 in the Mid-American Conference.

Sonny Wilson contributed significantly to the team’s success, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 7 of 15 from the field. Isaiah Adams also played a key role, adding 11 points to the scoreboard, thanks to a 4 of 11 shooting performance and going 3 for 4 from the free-throw line.

On the other side, Mark Freeman emerged as the top scorer for James Madison, putting up 23 points and recording four assists. Bryce Lindsay also made valuable contributions with 12 points and six assists, while Xavier Brown chipped in with 11 points. This defeat marked the end of a five-game winning streak for the Dukes, who now hold a record of 15-10 with an 8-4 standing in the Sun Belt Conference.

In the first half, Lewis managed to score 12 points, but the Rockets found themselves trailing at halftime with a score of 41-38. The turning point came in the second half when Toledo orchestrated a remarkable 17-2 run, overcoming an eight-point deficit and seizing a lead at 48-41 with 15:37 remaining in the game. During this pivotal period, Lewis added 10 points, solidifying his team’s position as they held on for the victory.