QUICK HITTERS
•  Toledo (2-2) looks to bounce back from Tuesday's 80-70 defeat at Middle Tennessee when it meets Evansville (2-1) on Friday, November 25 in its opening game of the Challenge in Music City. at the Murphy Center (11,520). Tip-off time is set for 6:00 p.m. ET.
•  The Rockets have split their first four games with a 77-76 setback at Saint Joseph's in their season opener and Tuesday's loss at Middle Tennessee sandwiched by a 103-98 (OT) win over Youngstown State (Nov. 15) and an 82-78 triumph at Wright State (Nov. 19).
•  Senior guard Jonathan Williams is leading the Rockets with 19.3 ppg, including 25- and 22-point outings vs. the Penguins and Raiders, respectively. Senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. is also averaging 16.8 ppg, a MAC-best 12.5 rpg and a team-high 4.3 apg.
•  Taylor was named MAC West Division Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 18.0 ppg, 16.5 rpg and 4.5 apg with a 57.7 FG% (15-of-26) in UT's two wins last week.
•  Taylor has registered three-straight double-doubles and is averaging 17.7 ppg, 14.3 rpg and 4.7 apg with a 59.0 FG% (23-of-39) during this stretch.
•  Sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford and junior guard Daniel Dzierzawski are also scoring in double digits for the Rockets with 12.0 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Sanford poured in a career-best 23 points in a career-high 36 minutes at Wright State.
•  Evansville has been idle since posting a 69-56 home win over Morehead State last Saturday. The Purple Aces also notched an 82-59 home victory over Alcorn State (Nov. 14) after a season-opening 78-47 loss at Louisville (Nov. 11).
•  Senior guard Jaylon Brown is UE's leading scorer with 21.0 ppg with sophomore guard Ryan Taylor the only other Purple Ace scoring in double digits at 13.0 ppg.
•  Toledo trails its all-time series vs. Evansville, 3-1, with its last meeting coming with an 89-72 setback on Dec. 9, 1989.
•  Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is in 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 100-67 (.599) win-loss mark over the last six years, including back-to-back 20-win campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
•  Toledo is playing just one home game in the month of November. The Rockets will be on the road for six of seven games in November before playing seven of its next eight contests in Savage Arena.

POST-GAME NOTES FROM UT'S 80-70 LOSS AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
• Toledo trails its all-time series vs. Middle Tennessee by a 3-1 margin.
• The Rockets were outrebounded by a 40-32 margin, marking the first time this season UT has lost the battle of the boards.
• Toledo posted its lowest shooting mark of the season with its 43.1 FG%. UT also posted a season-low 32.3 FG% in the first half before rebounding with a season-best 55.6 FG% in the second half.
• Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk's record vs. Middle Tennessee fell to 0-2.
• Senior forward Steve Taylor Jr. posted his third-straight double-double with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. He ranks second on the team with 16.8 ppg and leads the team with 12.5 rpg and 4.3 apg.
• Senior guard Jonathan Williams tallied 12 points and has scored in double digits in 35 of his last 36 outings. Williams tied his season best with four three-point field goals and is leading UT with 13 treys and a 41.9 three-point field-goal percentage.
• Williams moved into 28th place on UT's all-time scoring list with 1,206 points.
• Sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford has blocked a shot in each of Toledo's first four games and leads the Rockets with five rejections.
• Redshirt freshman center Luke Knapke tallied season highs for points (9), rebounds (7), field goals (4), field-goal attempts (6), free throws (1), free-throw attempts (4) and minutes (26).
• Sophomore forward Taylor Adway tied his career high with six points and played a career-high 16 minutes.

ON THE HORIZON
                Toledo will be idle for six days after competing in the Challenge in Music City. The Rockets will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 3 with a home matchup vs. Green Bay (3-2). The Phoenix will host Central Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 26 and travel to Kansas State on Wednesday, Nov. 30 before coming to the Glass City.