TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (2-6) hosts Horizon League member Cleveland State (2-4) on Saturday, Dec. 12 in a battle of intra-state foes. The opening tip is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and can be seen on ESPN3.

UT is coming off a pair of victories against Columbia, 88-75, and VCU, 80-61, at the ASU Classic last Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 5-6 to capture its 12th pre-conference tournament crown in school history. 

The key to the Rockets winning the ASU Classic was their offensive efficiency, as they shot 51.9 percent (56-of-108) from the field, including 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from three-point range, and 77.8 percent (42-of-54) from the charity stripe to average 84.0 points. 

The Midnight Blue & Gold also turned up its defensive intensity and limited the opposition to 35.1 percent (46-of-131) from the floor, including 25.5 percent (13-of-51) from beyond the arc, and 68.0 points. 

Senior Brenae Harris and junior Janice Monakana received all-tournament team honors for their efforts in the two victories. Harris, who was also selected tourney MVP, averaged a team-high 30.0 ppg and a squad-tying best 4.5 apg, while Monakana contributed 15.5 ppg, a team-high 8.0 rpg and a squad-best 2.5 spg.

UT, which is 0-2 at home, is fueled offensively by the quartet of Harris, senior Ana Capotosto, Monakana and sophomore Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, who are averaging 14.6, 10.9, 9.1 and 8.8 ppg, respectively.

The Vikings enter Saturday's contest in the midst of a two-game winning streak, including victories over Mid-American Conference schools Kent St., 60-49, on Dec. 2 and most recently Bowling Green, 69-48, on Dec. 5.

Cleveland State features an attack with four players averaging at least 9.0 points per game led by Ashanti Abshaw and Khayla Livingston at 14.5 and 14.0 ppg, respectively.

UT and CSU will meet for the second straight year and 24th time in the overall series. The Rockets lead the all-time series, 14-9, but most recently dropped an 81-71 road decision on Nov. 14, 2014. 

Toledo has held a decisive edge in the series at home, winning the last nine match-ups against its intra-state foe by an average of  21.5 ppg (77.4-55.9). The Vikings' most recent victory in Toledo occurred on Jan. 24, 1981 when they escaped town with a 60-51 triumph.

Following Saturday's home game, Toledo will travel to the "Windy City" to take on Horizon League member UIC on Sunday, Dec. 20. The opening tip against the Flames is slated for 3:00 p.m. (CT) in the UIC Pavilion. UT and UIC will meet for the sixth time overall but the first since the 1997-98 campaign. The Rockets have won all five match-ups in the series, most recently claiming a 97-49 home triumph on Dec. 20, 1997.