TOLEDO, OH - Toledo tips off its 2015-16 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 14 with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against NAIA foe West Virginia Tech. The contest is the second game of a doubleheader and will follow the Rocket women's contest vs. Arizona.
 
     Toledo has been tabbed to finish second in the MAC's West Division this year with 110 points, trailing Central Michigan's total of 138 points. Akron was picked as the East Division winner with 132 points, just ahead of Kent State's 116 points.
 
     Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is entering his sixth season at UT's helm and has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround since his arrival in 2010. He possesses an 85-74 record on the Rocket bench, including an 81-50 (.618) win-loss ledger over the last four years. Kowalczyk has guided Toledo to a share of the 2013-14 Mid-American Conference regular season title in addition to a share of the 2012-13 MAC West Division title during his tenure.
    
     The Rockets are returning two starters — senior center Nathan Boothe, a preseason All-MAC West Division selection, and junior guard Jonathan Williams — in 2015-16 as well as junior guard Jordan Lauf, junior center Zach Garber and sophomore guard Stuckey Mosley. Boothe averaged 10.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg en route to earning honorable mention All-MAC honors, while Williams tallied 10.2 ppg and 3.4 rpg. UT will also rely heavily on seven freshmen that have joined its roster.
 
     Williams paced the Rocket attack with 26 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists in UT's 100-99 (2OT) exhibition victory over Hillsdale last Saturday. Nathan Boothe notched a double-double for UT with 24 points and 12 boards, while freshman guard Jaelan Sanford also scored in double figures with 11 points while also dishing out four assists.
 
     West Virginia Tech, located in Montgomery, WV, has already played five games. Sophomore guard Ryan Atkins leads the Golden Bears with 20.2 ppg, while junior forward Paul Stone is averaging 16.6 ppg and a team-high 10.4 rpg. Senior guard Eddie Gordon is also scoring in double figures with 15.6 ppg.
 
     The Rockets will play their next five games away from Savage Arena beginning with a visit to Youngstown State on Wednesday, Nov. 18. UT then faces 2015 CBI champion Loyola (IL) in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 21 before heading to the Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 25-28). Toledo opens play in the event against San Jose State in a contest that will be televised by the CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 11:30 p.m. EST.