GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
TV: ESPN3. Mason Lowry will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Gast serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Brent Balbinot will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst
Live Stats | Live Stream
QUICK HITTERS
•  Toledo tips off its 103rd season of men's basketball on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. against Atlantic 10 Conference foe Saint Joseph's. The contest vs. the Hawks can be seen on ESPN3 and is the first of a season-opening three-game homestand with NCAA Division III member Ohio Northern and Horizon League favorite Oakland following SJU into Savage Arena.
•  The Rockets are returning a pair of starters in 2017-18 as well as one of the Mid-American Conference's top reserves. Junior point guard Jaelan Sanford is the Rockets' 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.
•  Sanford was named to the Preseason All-MAC West Division team. The Evansville, Ind. native knocked down 48 treys with a 35.0 3PTFG% as a freshman before improving those numbers to 65 three-pointers and a 39.2 3PTFG% last year.
•  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.
•  Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is entering his eighth season at UT and has orchestrated a dramatic turnaround since his arrival in 2010. He has guided the Midnight Blue and Gold to a 115-82 (.584) win-loss mark over the last six years, including back-to-back 20-win campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Toledo also has registered 81 victories over the last four seasons, a total that ranks second among MAC members.
•  UT has been tabbed to finish third in the MAC's West Division this year with 107 points. Western Michigan is predicted to win the West Division crown with 169 points and 22 first-place tallies followed by Ball State's 156 points and eight first-place votes.
•  Saint Joseph's is picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 and returns five starters from last season in which four players missed significant time with injuries en route to an 11-20 mark.
•  Senior guard Shavar Newkirk was averaging 20.3 ppg when he tore his ACL in the Hawks' conference opener, while junior guard Lamarr Kimble was scoring at a 15.5 ppg clip before fracturing his foot in February.
