KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Toledo closed out the game with a 13-2 run to come away with a 68-59 road win over Western Michigan in Mid-American Conference men's basketball action on Saturday in University Arena.

"This was a much-needed win and I don't think we could have played harder," said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk after the Rockets swept WMU for a third-straight season. "We had a lot of important contributions from everyone, and it was a really good team win."

Senior Willie Jackson tallied a double-double with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets (13-14, 5-9 MAC). The remainder of Toledo's starting lineup – senior Luke Knapke (15 pts.), junior Marreon Jackson (12 pts.), junior Spencer Littleson (11 pts.) and redshirt freshman Keshaun Saunders (10 pts.) – also scored in double figures.

Marreon Jackson also dished out seven assists with just two turnovers in 37 minutes. The Rockets committed just seven turnovers for its second-lowest total of the season. Knapke and Willie Jackson each swatted away three shots as well.

Junior Rafael Cruz, Jr. topped Western Michigan (11-16, 4-10 MAC) with 21 points and was 5-of-8 from three-point range. The Rockets limited the Broncos' leading scorer, Michael Flowers, to seven points on 2-of-11 shooting.

The Rockets shot just 43.6 percent from the field but limited the Broncos to a 32.8 shooting mark. UT was 14-of-18 from the charity stripe, while WMU was perfect on 14 opportunities at the free-throw line.

Toledo appeared to be ready to pull away after taking a 53-45 lead on Knapke's three-pointer with 7:00 remaining. The Broncos took timeout and regrouped by putting together a 12-2 spurt for a 57-55 advantage just under four minutes later.

Willie Jackson knotted the score at 57-57 with 2:44 to play, and Littleson followed with a trey on the Rockets' next possession to give Toledo the lead for good.

Following a pair of WMU free throws, Saunders' three-pointer extended the Rockets' lead to 63-59 at the 1:26 mark. Marreon Jackson then hit three of four free throws before Willie Jackson's dunk with 23 ticks left closed out the scoring.

Toledo will remain on the road for its next game when it travels to Mt. Pleasant, Mich. to face Central Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Rockets will return to Savage Arena for their next home game on Saturday, Feb. 29 vs. Ball State.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• WMU took its largest lead in the opening 20 minutes after B Artis White's three-pointer put the Broncos in front 12-7 just over five minutes into the contest.
• Toledo fought back to take the lead at 15-14 following a two Marreon Jackson free throws at the 9:16 mark.
• Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way to close out a half that featured 11 lead changes and seven occasions when the score was tied.
• Two Michael Flowers' free throws with 1:11 remaining in the half gave WMU a 29-28 advantage to take into the locker room.

SECOND HALF

• Marreon Jackson's steal and layup got Toledo off to a quick start in the second stanza, but WMU took it largest lead, 38-30, by scoring nine straight points.
• Toledo utilized strong defense to pull back in the lead, holding the Broncos to just one basket for nearly seven minutes as part of a 15-2 run to take a 53-45 lead with 7:00 to play.
• WMU then hit six straight free throws and Rafael Cruz, Jr. buried two treys to give the lead back to the Broncos, 57-55, with 3:20 remaining.
• Toledo held WMU to just two free throws the rest of the way, and Spencer Littleson and Keshaun Saunders hit big three-pointers in the final 2:30 to propel the Rockets to the victory.