GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
TV: ESPN3.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo.
SERIES
Toledo leads 81-63. UT has split its last four home meetings vs. WMU and was swept last season.
QUICK HITTERS
•  Toledo (9-6, 1-1 MAC) looks to build on Friday's 67-65 victory over Akron when it hosts Mid-American Conference West Division frontrunner Western Michigan (10-5, 2-0 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Tip-off time from Savage Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. with the game being streamed on ESPN3. Following Tuesday's game, UT will play the first of back-to-back road contests at Central Michigan (12-3, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m.
•  Junior guard Jaelan Sanford scored a team-high 22 points, including a pair of clutch buckets in the final two minutes, in the Rockets' win over the Zips. Senior guard Tre'Shaun Fletcher was the only other Rocket to score in double digits, tallying 14 points and grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double to help UT down Akron for the fifth time in the last six outings.
•  It was a tale of two halves for the Rockets shooting the basketball vs. the Zips. UT was red-hot in the opening 20 minutes with a 57.7 FG% before falling to a 35.0 mark in the second stanza. Toledo shot 47.8 percent overall, marking the first time in four contests it didn't top the 50 percent mark. The Rockets also converted 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) of their three-point attempts but was 0-for-8 behind the arc in the final 20 minutes despite many good looks.
•  Fletcher is the lone individual to appear in the MAC's Top 10 in points, rebounds and assists with 17.8 ppg (5th), 8.5 rpg (T-2nd) and 3.6 apg (10th).
•  Joining Fletcher among the MAC scoring leaders are Sanford and junior forward Nate Navigato with 16.5 ppg (9th) and 13.3 ppg (23rd), respectively.
•  Freshman guard Marreon Jackson ranks second in the MAC with a 45.3 3PTFG%, while Navigato is fifth with a 43.6 mark. Sophomore center Luke Knapke is second in the MAC with 1.6 bpg and is fifth in the league with a 56.1 field-goal percentage. Jackson also is fifth with a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio.
•  As a team, Toledo tops the MAC with its 39.6 three-point FG% and 1.2 assist/turnover ratio and is second with a 46.4 FG% and 15.5 apg. UT is also third with 78.5 ppg.
•  Western Michigan was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the MAC's West Division and has opened league play with a win over Akron and a victory at Miami.
•  Senior guard Thomas Wilder ranks sixth in the MAC with 17.7 ppg and third with 4.4 apg and 2.1 spg. Junior forward Josh Davis is fourth with 8.0 rpg.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM TOLEDO'S 67-65 WIN OVER AKRON
• UT's streak of shooting 50 percent or better ended at three games with its 47.8 shooting mark
• Over their last four contests, the Rockets are shooting 52.0 percent (115-of-221) from the field and 45.8 percent (38-of-83) from three-point range. In addition, UT is shooting even better in the second half of this stretch with a 59.0 FG% (59-of-100) and 45.7 3PTFG% (16-of-35).
• Toledo's 57.7 FG% in the first half was a season high for an opening 20 minutes, but its 26 second-half points was a season low.
• Toledo had just two players score in double figures for the third time this season but was able to record its first victory when this occurred.
• Toledo improved its record when leading at halftime to 7-1.
• The Rockets' eight blocked shots were UT's most in a game since Jan. 10, 2009.
• Coach Kowalczyk improved his career record vs. Akron to 6-4.
• Toledo's victory was its fifth in its last six meetings vs. the Zips.
• The Rockets were out-rebounded by the Zips by a 35-29 margin, marking just the second time in its last eight contests that UT has lost the battle of the boards.
• UT has won nine of 10 contests when out-shooting its opponent from the field.
• Junior guard Jaelan Sanford produced his fifth 20-point outing of the season and 12th of his career. In his last five games, he is averaging 18.8 ppg with a 50.0 FG% and 46.9 3PTFG%.
• Sophomore center Luke Knapke tied his career high with three blocked shots.
• Freshman guard Marreon Jackson was limited to 20 minutes due to foul trouble but connected on his lone three-point attempt. He is 6-of-8 from three-point range in his last three games. Sophomore guard Justin Roberts came off the bench to play a season-high 18 minutes and tally a season-best three assists.
