KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Toledo utilized a 12-2 run down the stretch on Saturday afternoon to pull out a 85-77 victory at Western Michigan (6-10, 0-3 MAC). The win gave the Rockets (13-3, 1-2 MAC) their first Mid-American Conference triumph of the season as well as their second win in a row in University Arena.

"This is a big win for us," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We came up with some big plays down the stretch and that ended up being the difference. I thought our defense was better and that we played really well offensively in the second half when we had just two turnovers."

Seniors Nate Navigato and Jaelan Sanford shared team scoring honors with 21 points apiece with sophomore Marreon Jackson adding 15 points and nine assists. The trio accounted for all of UT's scoring during the decisive run which Navigato began with a corner trey with just over four minutes to play.

The Rockets shot 51.7 percent from the field and buried 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) of their three-point field goal attempts. UT limited Western Michigan to a 41.8 shooting mark and a 7-of-24 (29.2 percent) effort behind the three-point arc.

UT dished out 19 assists and committed just nine turnovers (two in the second half). The Rockets also converted 9-of-10 free-throw attempts and made 7-of-8 in the final minute.

Sophomore Michael Flowers paced the Broncos with 21 points, while senior Seth Dugan registered a double-double with 16 points and a game –high 12 boards.

Toledo returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 15 when it hosts Miami (8-8, 0-3 MAC) in Savage Arena. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Toledo started strong and led for the first 13-plus minutes.
• Chris Darrington's three-pointer put the Rockets up 14-8 at the 14:14 mark.
• UT held its largest advantage of the half, 22-14, following Spencer Littleson's trey with just under 11 minutes remaining.
• An 11-0 Bronco spurt gave WMU its first lead, 32-27, with 5:27 remaining in the half and forced the Rockets to take a timeout.
• Navigato ended the Western Michigan run with a jumper and three-pointer to reduce UT's deficit to 32-31 less than a minute later.
• Toledo took a 37-36 lead into the locker room by holding WMU to just one field goal in the final five minutes.

 
SECOND HALF

• The Rockets started the second half with a 7-0 run but WMU answered with an 11-2 spurt to take a 47-46 lead with 15:21 to play.
• Neither team could gain more than a four-point lead until the Rockets broke free with their game-clinching burst.
• Navigato began the decisive stretch by drilling a corner trey coming out of a Rocket timeout for a 70-68 lead with 4:06 remaining.
• After Michael Flowers evened the score with a jumper in the paint, Sanford took a nice feed in the lane from Willie Jackson to put UT ahead to stay.
• Navigato came up with a pair of steals on WMU's next two possessions leading to fast-break layups from Marreon Jackson and Jaelan Sanford and a 78-70 cushion with 1:53 to play.
• Navigato came up with another defensive play by blocking a Bronco shot on the ensuing possession to end any hopes of a Bronco comeback.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Toledo has won its last three meetings vs. Western Michigan for the first time since March 1, 2006-Feb. 25, 2007. 
• Toledo has won three of its last five contests in Kalamazoo after losing seven straight in University Arena.
• Toledo tied its season high with 14 three-point field goals. UT also had 14 treys vs. North Alabama and Detroit Mercy.
• Four or more Rockets have scored in double digits in 13 of 16 games.
• Nate Navigato scored a season-high 21 points and drilled a season-best five three-pointers for the fifth time this season. Navigato also registered three steals and a blocked shot.