TOLEDO, Ohio – Senior
Nate Navigato (13 pts.) and sophomore
Spencer Littleson (10 pts.) each scored in double digits to lead a balanced attack in Toledo's 72-63 exhibition victory on Saturday afternoon over NCAA Division II foe Hillsdale College.
Seven more Rockets added five or more points with sophomore
Marreon Jackson and freshman
AJ Edu contributing nine points apiece. Jackson also dished out a team-high five assists, while Edu was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.
The Rockets controlled the boards by a 42-26 margin thanks to a dominating performance on the glass by the junior tandem of
Willie Jackson (12 reb.) and
Luke Knapke (9 reb.). Jackson and Knapke each registered a team-high two blocked shots as well.
Toledo shot 47.4 percent in the contest, including 9-of-25 (36.0 percent) from three-point range. Hillsdale was limited to 40.0 percent shooting and converted 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from behind the arc.
Toledo will open its 2018-19 campaign next weekend with a pair of games. The Rockets will travel to Rochester, Mich. to face Oakland on Friday, Nov. 9 before hosting Wilberforce University in Savage Arena. Both games will tip off at 7:00 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The only time Toledo trailed was by a 2-0 margin before responding with a 12-0 burst thanks to points from four different players.
- The Rockets extended their lead to 25-10 following a Jackson slam with 9:02 to play in the first half.
- Hillsdale sank a pair of free throws 42 seconds before intermission to cut its deficit to 33-29.
- Littleson answered with a three-pointer to give the Rockets a 36-29 cushion heading into the locker room.
- The Rockets quickly grabbed control of the contest early in the second following a Navigato trey with 15:51 remaining.
- Toledo extended its lead to 16 points on sophomore Dylan Alderson's slam with 11:12 to play and the Chargers didn't come closer than nine points the rest of the way.