Cellar dweller Northern Illinois entered Savage Arena one year ago and delivered a stunning upset, nearly derailing the University of Toledo’s fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference championship.
Tod Kowalczyk didn’t forget, fretting earlier this week about the Rockets’ Saturday matinee with the Huskies. Those fears were quickly alleviated, as UT built a 19-point lead only to let fritter it away and hang on for a too-close-for-comfort 89-85 victory.
Toledo never trailed and the game was only tied for 59 seconds. It was a double-digit margin for nearly 19 minutes, although Northern Illinois cut it to one with 8.