TOLEDO, OH – Senior guard Jordan Lauf tallied a career-high 16 points and career-best 14 rebounds to help Toledo register a dominating 87-66 triumph on Friday evening over MAC West Division foe Central Michigan. The victory improved UT's home record to 11-3 and sent the Chippewas to their fifth-straight defeat.

Lauf was one of five Rockets to score in double figures with senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. also tallying a double-double with 15 points, 10 boards and seven assists. Senior guard Jonathan Williams paced UT with 22 points, and he was joined in double figures by sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford (13 pts.) and redshirt freshman center Luke Knapke (12 pts.).

Lauf and Taylor helped UT (15-14, 8-8 MAC) register a decisive 43-29 advantage on the glass as CMU (16-13, 6-10 MAC) was limited to just two offensive rebounds. Lauf helped the Rockets to a 12-2 advantage in second-chance points by grabbing seven boards on the offensive end.

Toledo posted an impressive 55.7 field-goal percentage and registered 23 assists and just 11 turnovers. Sanford tied his career high with seven assists and committed zero turnovers in 34 minutes.

The Rockets produced a stellar defensive effort as well, limiting the nation's third-highest scoring team to 66 points, 23 under its season average. CMU also entered the contest ranking second nationally with 12.7 three-point field goals per game but converted just 8-of-29 attempts from behind the three-point arc.

Junior guard Marcus Keene, who leads the nation with 29.8 ppg, paced the Chippewas with 27 points. UT held Keene scoreless in the first half en route to a 40-20 halftime advantage and also forced him to commit nine turnovers in the contest.

The Rockets led from start to finish thanks to a 12-2 spurt to open the contest. After CMU senior guard Braylon Rayson cut UT's lead to 12-4, Sanford responded with a pair of baskets and the Midnight Blue and Gold's lead didn't fall below double digits the remainder of the evening.

Toledo will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 28 when it hosts Ball State (18-10, 9-6 MAC) at 7:00 p.m. The Cardinals will play at Western Michigan (12-15, 8-7 MAC) tomorrow before heading to the Glass City.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game comments


Senior Jordan Lauf post-game comments