CINCINNATI – A shorthanded Toledo men's basketball team saw its successful season come to a close on Wednesday evening with a 78-64 setback at Xavier in the first round of the 2019 National Invitation Tournament. The Rockets concluded the season with a 25-8 record, the second-most victories in school history. The Musketeers will play at Texas in the second round on Sunday, March 24.
 
Senior Jaelan Sanford scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Rockets, who were playing without a pair of injured starters - junior Willie Jackson and sophomore Marreon Jackson. Senior Chris Darrington registered 18 points, a career-high five rebounds and four assists. Also scoring in double digits was senior Nate Navigato with 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting behind the arc.
 
"I'm extremely proud of the way we battled against a very talented Xavier team," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We made some turnovers during their second-half run that led to fast-break baskets and it really cost us. Once they gained some separation, it was tough to come back."

Sophomore Naji Marshall topped Xavier with 20 points, a career-high 21 rebounds and a team-high six assists. Marshall's work on the boards helped Musketeers control the glass by a 51-31 margin.
 
The Rockets shot 39.0 percent from the field and limited the hosts to a 40.3 shooting mark.
 
Toledo led by as many as four points in the first half before settling for a 27-27 tie at intermission. Darrington's layup with 16:04 remaining put the Rockets in front 36-35, marking the last time UT led in the contest. Xavier responded with a 23-2 spurt to over the next five-and-a-half minutes to take control.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Neither team led by more than four points until Nate Navigato's three-pointer gave the Rockets a 17-13 lead with 9:45 to play in the first half.
• Xavier fought back to take a 21-19 lead three minutes later, but Chris Darrington answered with a three to put Toledo in front 22-21 with 5:04 remaining.
• Jaelan Sanford's basket at the 44-second mark gave UT a 27-25 advantage, but a Xavier putback evened the score at the half.
• The first half featured eight lead changes and seven occasions when the score was tied.
• UT shot 37.9 percent in the first half limited Xavier to a 34.3 FG% and 2-of-14 shooting behind the arc.

SECOND HALF

• Quentin Goodin's three-pointer gave the Musketeers a 33-29 cushion less than two minutes into the second half.
• Navigato ignited a 7-2 spurt with a trey that put Toledo back in the lead, 36-35, with 16:04 to play.
• Xavier took advantage of three Rocket turnovers in a 10-0 run that forced Toledo to take its first timeout at the 13:27 mark.
• Sanford broke free for a layup following the stoppage but Xavier scored the game's next 13 points for a 20-point advantage.
• The closest the Rockets came down the stretch was 12 points following a Darrington layup with two minutes remaining.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Nate Navigato connected on four treys tonight to give him a Mid-American Conference record 309 in his career, three more than Central Michigan's Josh Kozinski.
• Navigato and Jaelan Sanford played in their 133^rd game in a Rocket uniform to tie the school record held by Jordan Lauf (2013-17).
• Freshman AJ Edu blocked two shots to finish the season with 57, three shy of the school record held by Luke Knapke (2017-18) and J.C. Harris (1991-92).
• Toledo's all-time record in the NIT dropped to 5-10 in nine appearances.

Rockets vs Xavier (First Round NIT) Recap.


Jaelan Sanford, Nate Navigato, and Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk Post-game.