TOLEDO, Ohio – Senior Jaelan Sanford poured in 29 points to power Toledo (11-1) to its ninth-straight win on Wednesday evening, an 86-70 triumph over Cornell (5-6) in Savage Arena. Sanford finished two points shy of his career high by knocking down 9-of-13 shots from the field and all nine of his attempts from the free-throw line.
 
Seniors Nate Navigato and Chris Darrington joined Sanford in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Willie Jackson also grabbed a game-high 10 boards to help the Rockets dominate the glass by a 44-22 margin.
 
Sanford dished out a team-high five assists as well to go along with five rebounds. Freshman center AJ Edu dominated the paint defensively with a season-high five blocked shots in addition to scoring seven points and grabbing six rebounds.
 
Senior Matt Morgan paced Cornell with 24 points, one more than his season scoring average.
 
Toledo shot 44.1 percent from the field, 10-of-25 (40.0) percent from three-point range and an impressive season-best 24-of-26 (92.3) from the charity stripe. Cornell was a perfect 12-of-12 at the line to go along with a 43.9 FG% and 32.0 three-point FG% (8-of-25).
 
The Rockets will now take a short break for the holidays before hosting Penn (9-2) in their non-conference finale on Saturday, Dec. 29. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• After Nate Navigato buried a corner three on UT's first possession, Cornell proceeded to go on a 13-2 spurt for an early eight-point cushion.
• The Big Red extended their lead to 19-8 before AJ Edu's three-point play capped off a 7-0 run to reduce the Rockets' deficit to four, 19-15, with 11:48 remaining in the first half.
• Toledo took control with a 20-2 spurt leading to its first double-digit advantage, 37-27, seven minutes later. Three-pointers from Navigato, Luke Knapke, Willie Jackson and Marreon Jackson keyed the game-changing run.
• The Rockets' lead didn't dip below seven the remainder of the half as UT held a 48-39 advantage at intermission.

 
SECOND HALF

• Cornell jumped back into the contest just over two minutes into the second half with five straight points to reduce UT's lead to four, 51-47.
• Toledo quickly responded as Chris Darrington's three capped off an 8-0 spurt to put the Big Red's deficit back into double digits, 59-47, with 14:42 remaining.
• The closest Cornell could come the rest of the way was eight points.
• Sanford scored the Rockets' first seven points after intermission and finished the second half with 18 points. Darrington scored all 10 of his points in the second stanza.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Rockets' 11-1 start is their best since opening the 2013-14 campaign with 12 straight victories.
• Toledo had fewer than four players score in double digits for just the second time this season.
• UT registered a season-high seven blocked shots.
• The Rockets committed just eight turnovers, marking the fourth straight home game UT has had nine or fewer miscues.
• Nate Navigato connected for three three-pointers for the 10^th time in 12 games this season.
• Willie Jackson registered his eight double-digit rebounding effort this season.

Highlights from game vs. Cornell.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk Post-game. 


Rocket Senior Jaelan Sanford Post-game.