TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo (8-1) brings its six-game winning streak on the road when it travels to Huntington, W. Va. on Saturday, Dec. 8 to take on Marshall (5-3). The Rockets will be looking to avenge two gut-wrenching defeats over the last two seasons to the Thundering Herd.

UT dropped a 93-87 home decision to Marshall last year after suffering a 111-105 (OT) road defeat in 2016.

Toledo concluded a three-game homestand on Wednesday with a dominating 101-57 victory over Detroit Mercy. UT excelled in all facets of the game by registering a 51.6 FG%, tying a season high with 14 three-pointers, converting 21-of-23 free-throw attempts, dishing out a season-high 27 assists, controlling the boards by a 54-29 margin, and limiting the Titans to a 31.9 percent shooting mark. In addition, Detroit's 57 points were a season low for a Rocket opponent.

Senior Nate Navigato paced a balanced UT scoring attack with 19 points, to go along with a team-high six assists and five rebounds. Junior Willie Jackson spearheaded Toledo's domination of the glass with 15 rebounds (one shy of his career best), to go along with 11 points for his sixth double-double of the season.

Marshall is 4-0 at home this season but will be looking to bounce back from road defeats at Ohio (101-84) on Saturday and Duquesne (93-82) on Wednesday. The senior backcourt tandem of Jon Elmore (20.3 ppg) and C.J. Burks (19.8 ppg) lead the Thundering Herd attack. Elmore is averaging 30.0 ppg in two contests vs. the Rockets.
 
POST TOUCHES
•  Toledo's 8-1 start is its best since winning its first 12 games in 2013-14 season.
•  UT ranks eighth nationally (as of Dec. 5) with its 79.4 FT%. The Rockets also rank in the Top 20 nationally in win percentage (.889/14th), assists per game (18.4/14th), 3PTFGs per game (10.4/15th) and 3PTFG% (40.3/18th).
•  UT leads the MAC in FT% (79.4), 3PTFG% (40.3) three-point field goals per game (10.4).
•  Jaelan Sanford has connected for a three-point field goal in each of UT's first nine games. Sanford ranks sixth and eighth in the MAC with an 82.6 FT% and a team-high 17.2 ppg, respectively. The Evansville, Ind. native ranks 14th on UT's all-time scoring list with 1,431 points.
•  Nate Navigato ranks second in the MAC and is 10th nationally with a 55.6 three-point FG%. He also ranks second in the MAC with 3.3 treys per game as well as second in the MAC and eighth nationally with a 5.0 assist/turnover ratio.
•  Navigato paced the MAC last year with 2.8 treys/game and was second with a 42.7 3PTFG%. He scored 14 points and was 4-of-7 from three-point range at Marshall in 2016.
•  Willie Jackson is tied for fifth nationally with six double-doubles and has 10 in 29 career games as a Rocket. Jackson ranks third in the MAC with 10.4 rpg.
•  Three Rockets rank in the MAC's Top 10 in 3PTFG% — Nate Navigato (55.6/2nd), Chris Darrington (48.3/6th) and Luke Knapke (47.8/7th). Spencer Littleson ranks 14th at 41.7 percent.
•  Marreon Jackson is third in the MAC with 5.2 assists per game.
•  Luke Knapke ranks third in the MAC with an 87.5 FT% (21-of-24), sixth with a 47.8 three-point FG% (11-of-23) and ninth with a 58.1 FG%. Knapke scored a career-best 20 points at Wright State (Nov. 14) thanks to a 6-of-6 effort behind the three-point arc.
•  Chris Darrington comes off the bench with a 10.7 scoring mark and is one of five Rockets scoring in double digits. Darrington has a 48.3 three-point FG% (14-of-29), an 82.9 FT% and has made 14 straight free throws. He leads the Rockets in free throws made (34) and free throws attempted (41).
 
SOME TEAM STATISTICAL TIDBITS
•  Toledo has not allowed more than 70 points in six straight games, the first time it has achieved that feat since a six-game streak from Jan. 21-Feb. 7, 2015.
•  Toledo has seven different players shooting 75.0 percent or better from the free-throw line with each of those individuals making at least 10 trips to the charity stripe.
•  Toledo is 8-2 in games decided by five points or less since the start of last season.
•  Six of UT's eight wins have been by 11 points or more. The Rockets' scoring margin of plus-17.6 ranks second in the MAC behind No. 17 Buffalo's plus-19.0 mark.
•  Toledo is undefeated in its seven games that it has outrebounded its opponent.
•  Four or more Rockets have scored in double digits in eight of nine games.
•  UT has shot 75.0 percent or better from the free-throw line in seven of nine games.
•  At least five different Rockets have made three-point field goals in seven of nine games. The only times that didn't occur was vs. Wilberforce (Nov. 10) and Cleveland State (Dec. 1).
•  Toledo outrebounded Detroit Mercy by a season-high 25 rebounds and grabbed 40 defensive rebounds.
•  The Rockets have won their first four home games for a second-straight season, the first time UT has done so since winning all 15 home contests in its 2013-14 campaign.
•  A win over Marshall would equal the Rockets' longest win streak last year of seven games. The last time UT won eight or more in a row was its 12-game streak in '13-14.

LAST YEAR VS. MARSHALL
        Tre'Shaun Fletcher scored a career-high 31 points, but it wasn't enough in the Rockets' 93-87 home setback to Marshall. Fletcher, who knocked down 15-of-16 free-throw attempts, was joined in double figures by Luke Knapke (18 pts.) and Jaelan Sanford (13 pts.).
        Knapke also tied his career high with a team-best 11 rebounds for his second career double-double to help the Rockets hold a 40-36 advantage in the rebounding department. Fletcher and Nate Navigato also contributed on the glass by grabbing seven boards apiece.
        Marreon Jackson dished out a season-high six assists as UT collected 20 helpers on its 29 field goals. The Rockets were hurt though by 18 turnovers which Marshall turned into a 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
        The visitors outshot Toledo by a slight margin, 50.0-47.5, with each team posting similar marks (UT – 29.4 (5-of-17); MU 31.6 (6-of-19) from three-point range. The Rockets knocked down 24-of-28 (85.7 percent) free-throw attempts, while the Thundering Herd converted 19-of-29 (65.5 percent).
        Jon Elmore topped Marshall with 25 points, while Ajdan Panava also contributed 24 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and four steals.
        The Midnight Blue and Gold appeared headed to victory after two Fletcher free throws with 2:59 left put the Rockets in front, 87-79. UT was held scoreless the rest of the way though.
 
ON THE HORIZON
               Toledo will begin a four-game homestand next week. The Rockets will host Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Cornell (Dec. 19) and Penn (Dec. 29) before beginning conference play vs. Ball State (Jan. 4). UT's next road game will be at No. 17 Buffalo on Jan. 8.