ESTERO, Fla. – Toledo brought home the Gulf Coast Showcase title Wednesday night by rallying from a seven-point halftime deficit to post a 67-60 victory over a previously unbeaten UC-Irvine (6-1) squad. The victory improved the Rockets' record to 5-1.

Senior Jaelan Sanford led UT tonight with 18 points and a career-high eight rebounds and was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Junior Luke Knapke was the Rockets' only other double-digit scorer, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds to earn a spot on the all-tournament team.

Toledo registered another stifling defensive showing by limiting the Anteaters to a 37.5 field-goal percentage and a 4-of-19 effort behind the three-point arc.

UT shot just 43.5 percent from the field but made its shots when it counted. After posting a 28.1 FG% in the first half, the Rockets converted 60.0 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Junior John Edgar Jr. led UC-Irvine with 16 points.

Toledo will return to action when it hosts North Alabama in Savage Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Toledo started strong by jumping out to a 12-6 lead thanks to six points from Luke Knapke in the first five minutes.
• UC-Irvine answered with an 8-0 spurt to take an 18-15 lead at the 9:51 mark. UT committed three of its first four turnovers in the game during this stretch.
• Senior Chris Darrington hit a three-pointer to even the score at 23-23 with 5:59 to play but that were the Rockets' last points of the opening stanza.
• After a three-minute scoreless stretch, the Anteaters closed out the half with a 7-0 spurt.

SECOND HALF

• Toledo cut its seven-point halftime deficit to three points on four occasions in the second half but didn't take lead until back-to-back treys from sophomore Dylan Alderson and freshman AJ Edu put UT in front, 41-38, with 13:19 to play.
• Alderson's and Edu's three-pointers were part of a 12-0 spurt that also included a pair of basket from Darrington and a Sanford layup.
• A Knapke layup extended the Rockets' lead to 49-42 with 10:05 left and Toledo's lead didn't dip below four points the rest of the way.
• Sanford and Knapke each drained big three-pointers down the stretch to extend UT's lead to as many as 10 points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jaelan Sanford has scored in double digits in all six games this season.
• Toledo registered a 40-37 rebounding advantage and is 5-0 when outrebounding its opponent.
• The Rockets did not have four or more players score in double figures for the first time this season.
• Toledo registered its third tournament title under Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk.
• UT shot 6-of-17 from three-point range with six different Rockets hitting a trey.
• All nine Rockets who played in tonight's game scored at least three points.