TOLEDO, OH - Rocket fans can receive their first glimpse of the 2016-17 edition of Toledo men's basketball when UT hosts NCAA Division II foe Ohio Dominican in an exhibition contest on Saturday, Nov. 5. Tip-off time is set for 2:30 p.m. in Savage Arena and admission is free for the game. The Toledo women's squad will entertain Lock Haven (PA) University prior to the men's contest at Noon.
 
       The Rockets are returning three starters in 2016-17 with senior guard Jonathan Williams leading the way after ranking third in the Mid-American Conference with 17.6 points per game. Williams will be joined by classmates Zach Garber (6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Jordan Lauf (4.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Steve Taylor, Jr. (sat out 2015-16 after transferring from Marquette). UT will also have a pair of sophomores, Nate Navigato (8.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Jaelan Sanford (8.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) who were key contributors last season.
 
      Toledo has been tabbed to finish fourth in the MAC's West Division this year with 100 points and one first-place vote. Eastern Michigan is predicted to win the West Division crown with 178 points and 16 first-place tallies.
     
      Williams, who has been named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division after earning third-team All-MAC honors a year ago, scored 14 or more points in all but three games in 2015-16 (including 13 20-point outings) and enters his final campaign as a Rocket with 1,129 career points.
 
      Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is entering his seventh season at UT and has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround since his arrival in 2010. He has guided the Midnight Blue and Gold to a 98-65 (.601) win-loss mark over the last five years, including back-to-back 20-win campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Toledo also has registered 64 victories over the last three seasons, a total that ranks second among Mid-American Conference members.
 
      Ohio Dominican is an NCAA Division II program located in Columbus and has improved its win total in each of the last three seasons under fourth-year head coach Dan Evans. The Panthers posted an 11-17 (8-14 GLIAC) win-loss mark in 2015-16 and return three starters from a year ago. Junior Ronnie Williams is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 13.1 ppg with a 38.0 (68-of-179) three-point field-goal percentage.
 
      UT opens its regular season on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Saint Joseph's (PA) before hosting Youngstown State in its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 15.