Toledo Men’s Hoops Schedule Set for 2017-18 Campaign

     TOLEDO, Ohio — The first two Mid-American Conference contests in 2018 for the University of Toledo men's basketball program will be nationally televised, the league office announced as part of its schedule release on Thursday. The Rockets' road game against Buffalo on Jan. 2 and home matchup vs. Akron on Jan. 5 will both be shown on the CBS Sports Network. UT's matchup at Akron on Feb. 3 can also be seen on the CBS Sports Network.

     After its opening week of nationally-televised games, Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk and the Rockets will host Western Michigan on Jan. 9 before playing three of their next four contests away from Savage Arena. UT will visit Central Michigan on Jan. 13 and Ohio on Jan. 16 before entertaining defending MAC Tournament champion Kent State on Jan. 20. Following a trip to Kalamazoo, Mich. to battle the Broncos on Jan. 23, Toledo will wrap up the month of January with home dates vs. arch-rival Bowling Green on Jan. 27 and Ball State on Jan. 30.

     UT opens February with a rematch at the Zips on Feb. 3 before hosting Northern Illinois on Feb. 6 and Ohio on Feb. 13. A contest at Miami on Feb. 10 splits up the Midnight Blue and Gold's home encounters vs. the Huskies and Bobcats. The Rockets will then visit Ball State on Feb. 17 before meeting Eastern Michigan for the first time on Feb. 20 in Ypsilanti. Toledo closes out its regular season with a home game vs. Central Michigan on Feb. 24, a road date against Northern Illinois on Feb. 27 and its regular-season finale vs. Eastern Michigan on March 2.

     The Rockets are returning a pair of starters as well as one of the MAC's top reserves in 2017-18. Junior point guard Jaelan Sanford is UT's top returning scorer after tallying 13.6 ppg and a 39.2 three-point field-goal percentage last year. Junior forward Nate Navigato registered 9.5 ppg and a 40.8 three-point clip coming off the bench, while sophomore center Luke Knapke notched 6.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg in his initial season at the collegiate level.

     UT will also gain the services of a pair of impact transfers in senior guard Tre'Shaun Fletcher (7.1 ppg/2.4 rpg at Colorado) and sophomore forward Willie Jackson (5.9 ppg/4.6 rpg at Missouri). Jackson will not be eligible to play for the Rockets until the conclusion of the 2017 fall semester.

     For ticket information, stop by the UT Athletic Ticket Office in the Sullivan Athletic Complex at Savage Arena, go online at utrockets.com or call 419-530-GOLD (4653). Game times for the Rockets' home games vs. Central Michigan on Feb. 24 and Eastern Michigan on March 2 will be announced at a later date.

Toledo Men’s Hoops Schedule Set for 2017-18 Campaign

Players Mentioned

Tre'Shaun Fletcher

Willie Jackson

Luke Knapke

Nate Navigato

Jaelan Sanford

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