TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo men's basketball team (9-7, 1-2 MAC) looks to build on Saturday's 67-59 win in its MAC home opener when it hosts Central Michigan (9-7, 2-1 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena with streaming available on ESPN-Plus.
       
After opening league play with a pair of single-digit road losses at Ball State (61-57) and Kent State (84-77), the Rockets produced a strong defensive and rebounding effort against the Broncos. Toledo dominated the glass by a 46-29 margin and limited WMU to a 36.5 FG%.
       
The Chippewas won their initial two MAC games over Miami and Northern Illinois before dropping a 79-73 decision at Kent State on Saturday.

The Rockets will be looking to slow down a CMU squad that ranks second nationally with 84.4 ppg. The Chippewas also rank 10th with 9.8 steals per game and 17th with a plus-4.6 scoring margin.

Junior Marreon Jackson was named MAC West Division Co-Player of the Week this week and is leading the Rockets in scoring and is tied for third in the MAC with 17.2 ppg. Also scoring in double digits for Toledo is senior Luke Knapke at 15.3 ppg (8th in MAC), junior Spencer Littleson at 11.9 ppg and senior Willie Jackson at 11.7 ppg. Jackson is also averaging 12.5 rpg, a total that ranks third in the nation. He also is tied for fifth nationally with 10 double-doubles.

Knapke led five Rockets in double figures in their win over the Broncos, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds. Willie Jackson also produced a double-double with 12 points and 16 boards. Marreon Jackson also produced a strong all-around game recorded 12 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Television: ESPN-Plus. Mason Lowry will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Rhett Boyd serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Brent Balbinot will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst.
 
SERIES
   Toledo leads 64-38. Toledo has won its last five meetings vs. CMU after dropping six in a row in the series. Toledo's 76-72 home win
   last year is the Rockets' only single-digit win during its current five-game winning streak.

POST TOUCHES
•  The Rockets are 6-1 at home this season and CMU is winless in seven road games.
•  Toledo and CMU have two common opponents. The Rockets split games with Valparaiso (79-77 loss) and Robert Morris (70-56 win), while the Chippewas lost to the Crusaders (77-75) and Colonials (83-79).
•  Marreon Jackson has been named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch list. The award is presented to the top mid-major player in the nation. He has dished out a career-high 10 assists twice and is third in the MAC with 17.2 ppg, 2.2 spg and 1.9 assist/turnover ratio and second with 6.2 apg.
•  Luke Knapke, who has been named MAC West Division Player of the Week twice this season, has scored in double digits in 15 of 16 games. He ranks second on the team with 15.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg to go along with a MAC-best 2.6 bpg.
• Knapke became Toledo's all-time blocked shot leader with a school-record 10 blocks (2nd in MAC history) at Cleveland State. He now has 178 blocks, 23 more than Nathan Boothe (2012-16).
•  Willie Jackson leads the MAC and ranks third nationally with 12.5 rpg (3rd in nation with 8.9 defensive rpg) after ranking fourth in the MAC last year with 8.9 rpg. He has scored in double digits in a career-high nine straight outings and led Toledo on the boards in 13 games, including a career-high tying 20 caroms at Notre Dame (Nov. 21).
•  Jackson scored a season-high 17 points to go along with 13 boards at Kent State on Tuesday with his scoring output one shy of his career high in the 2018 MAC semifinals.
•  Spencer Littleson has scored in double digits nine times and possesses a team-best 41.5 3PTFG% (7th in MAC). He also is tied for 10th in the MAC with 2.4 three-point field goals per game. Marreon Jackson is tied for fifth with a team-high 2.5 treys/game.
•  Keshaun Saunders scored 10 points vs. WMU for his fifth double-digit outing. He is shooting 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from three-point range in MAC play.