ROCHESTER, Mich.  – Senior Jaelan Sanford poured in 30 points and junior Willie Jackson tallied a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to lift Toledo to a season-opening 87-86 victory at Oakland.
 
Three more Rockets – senior Nate Navigato, junior Luke Knapke and sophomore Marreon Jackson – scored 11 points each to join Sanford and Jackson in double figures. Knapke also grabbed nine boards, while Jackson dished out a team-high five assists.
 
Sharing game scoring honors with Sanford was Oakland's Xavier Hill-Mais with 30 points and nine boards.
 
Toledo was efficient shooting the basketball throughout, finishing with a 60.0 FG%, a 50.0 three-point FG% (6-of-12) and an 84.0 FT% (21-of-25). Oakland shot 50.0 percent from the field, 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from three-point range and 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the charity stripe.  
 
The game was filled with ebbs and flows as Toledo fell behind 19-5 in the game's first six minutes before rallying to within a single point, 37-36, at halftime. The Rockets didn't take their first lead until a 13-1 spurt gave UT its largest lead of the night, 72-64, with 6:28 remaining. Toledo couldn't secure the win though until Oakland's Brailen Neely missed the second of two free throws with 4.0 seconds remaining.
 
The Rockets will return to action tomorrow night for their home opener vs. Wilberforce. Tip-off time in Savage Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Toledo committed six turnovers in the game's first seven minutes to fall behind 21-7.
• Marreon Jackson and Knapke keyed an 8-0 run to cut UT's deficit to 25-19 with 8:03 remaining in the first half.
• After a Mais-Hill jumper put Oakland up 31-21 at the 4:47 mark of the first half, Sanford caught fire with 10 points before halftime to cut Toledo's deficit to one.
• Four straight points from Navigato tied the score at 63-63 with 8:41 remaining. Sanford and Knapke followed with two free throws apiece for a four-point cushion.
• Following an Oakland free throw, Sanford drove the lane for another layup and senior Chris Darrington followed with a three-point play with 6:28 to play.
• Toledo held an 86-80 lead with 24.0 seconds left after Marreon Jackson's two free throws.
• After Oakland sank two free throws and Toledo couldn't convert on its next possession, Karmari Newman buried a three with 11.5 seconds remaining to cut UT's lead to 86-85.
• Sophomore guard Spencer Littleson hit one of two free throws with 9.3 seconds to play to make it a two-point game.
• Oakland's Brailen Neely missed the game-tying free throw with 4.0 seconds remaining and Willie Jackson grabbed the rebound to secure the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sanford's 30 points was one shy of his career high of 31 vs. Saint Joseph's in last year's season opener.
• Sanford was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and 2-of-3 from three-point range.
• Willie Jackson converted 7-of-9 field-goal attempts, including his second career three-point field goal
• Toledo registered a 32-28 rebounding advantage.
• Toledo has won five of its last six season openers.
• Toledo has defeated Oakland in each of the last two years and now leads the all-time series by a 9-6 margin.
• All nine Rockets who played were on the floor for 10 or more minutes.

Highlights from UT's win over Oakland.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game.


Senior Jaelan Sanford post-game.