Keith Boggs: A defining victory for the Rockets

A win is a win, no matter how ugly.

The Rockets’ overtime victory over Buffalo Wednesday night was ugly. But they certainly earned the Bulls’ respect.

Toledo hustled, hit the glass hard and played a tough zone defense. The Rockets struggled with execution in two specific areas – turnovers and missed shots – but when the lights shined the brightest, UT came to play.

Like I said, it wasn’t pretty. The home team committed 18 costly turnovers, including 12 in the first half.

In an otherwise solid game for the Rockets, turnovers managed to hold them back.

Toledo nearly matched or outshot the Bulls in field goal percentage and three-point percentage and dominated Buffalo at the free throw line. Yet, at points in the game, the Rockets found themselves down by double figures.

But it never seemed to matter.

Down by 10? No problem. UT just put on a full court press and forced turnovers of their own.

Guarding the paint becoming problematic? Toledo just threw out a hustling zone defense and contested every shot.

Games like this one can make or break a season. Losing a hard fought contest like this, against a conference opponent, can send a team into a tailspin.

A lot is expected of the Rockets, including wins against teams like Buffalo at home. There are also individual expectations, none higher than the ones placed upon senior guard Inma Zanoguera.

She’s earned it. She averages almost 16 points, seven boards and six assists per game as one of the best players in the conference and maybe the country.

When her team needed buckets, Zanoguera took over. She finished regulation with 13 straight points and the game with 28 total points, including 15-of-15 from the charity stripe.

The Rockets couldn’t get things going in the first half. They shot below 30 percent and allowed Buffalo to shoot over 40 percent.

But there are two halves to every game – and in some cases an overtime. Eventually, the Rockets dominated.

The resiliency this team showed can’t be understated. They played a mistake-prone first half and every deficit they climbed out of was replaced with another.

But they never threw in the towel.

The Rockets seemed to have the utmost confidence in whoever was shooting the ball. They are a complete team, one that isn’t afraid of any opponent or any defecit.

UT head coach Tricia Cullop summed up the victory best.

“In games like this, you find out what your team is made of.” she said.

It was an ugly win, but it still counts.