TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo overcame a cold shooting performance from the field in Savage Arena on Saturday afternoon to extend its winning streak to five games with an 80-67 victory over Cleveland State (2-7). The Rockets (7-1) shot just 38.7 percent from the field but offset that atypical shooting performance with a season-low four turnovers.
 
Senior Jaelan Sanford topped four Rockets in double figures with 20 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. He was joined in double digits by senior Nate Navigato (19 pts.), junior Willie Jackson (16 pts.) and senior Chris Darrington (13 pts.).

Jackson led UT on the boards with a game-high 11 caroms for his fifth double-double of the season.  Sophomore Marreon Jackson dished out a team-high five assists while committing just one turnover.

UT was limited to a season-low 23.5 shooting percentage behind the three-point arc by the Vikings. Navigato accounted for the majority of the Rockets' three-point attack by matching his season high with five triples.
 
Sophomore guard Tyree Appleby paced the Vikings with 19 points. CSU shot 45.3 percent from the field and 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from three-point range.
 
The Rockets will conclude their three-game homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 5 with a matchup vs. Detroit Mercy. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• The opening 20 minutes was a back-and-forth affair that featured six lead changes and six occasions when the score was tied.
• Neither team led by more than three points until Chris Darrington hit a trey and Jaelan Sanford added a layup to give UT a 17-12 lead at the 11:52 mark.
• Toledo couldn't extend it further as the Vikings responded with a 9-2 burst to re-take the lead, 24-22, four minutes later. Tyree Appleby keyed the rally with six points.
• The Rockets took the lead for good with a 15-0 run for a 41-29 advantage 50 seconds before halftime. Darrington opened the outburst with two free throws and ended it with a four-point play.
• Darrington paced the Rockets with 13 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Navigato also was in double digits with 11 points.
• The Vikings controlled the boards by a 22-15 margin but the Rockets offset that by committing just one turnover.

SECOND HALF

• The Vikings cut the Rockets' lead to three, 52-49, with 9:54 remaining on Appleby's three-point play.
• Toledo quickly responded with a 5-0 spurt but couldn't get its lead back to double digits until a Sanford jumper put the Rockets in front 64-53 with 6:52 to play.
• Cleveland State scored the next four points to close within seven, but Navigato answered with a jumper in the lane and a three-point bomb for a 12-point cushion.
• The Vikings couldn't come closer than nine points the rest of the way.
• Sanford and Willie Jackson led Toledo after halftime with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Toledo has won its last five meetings vs. Cleveland State and leads the all-time series by a 10-5 margin.
• The Rockets' 7-1 start is their best since opening the 2013-14 campaign with 12 straight victories.
• Four or more Rockets have scored in double digits in seven of eight games.
• UT registered a season-high 10 steals with eight different Rockets registering a theft.
• Toledo was outrebounded by a 42-38 margin, marking just the second time this season UT has lost the battle of the boards.
• Jaelan Sanford has scored in double digits and connected for a three-point field goal in each of UT's first eight games.
• Nate Navigato scored a season-high 19 points and has connected for five three-pointers in three of his last four games.

Highlights from UT's win over Cleveland State.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game.


Senior Jaelan Sanford post-game.