TOLEDO, Ohio – Two of the top programs in the Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference will face off on Monday, Nov. 4 when the Toledo men's basketball team (20-12, 14-4 MAC in 2023-24) tips off its 110th season in Alabama against Troy (20-12, 13-5 Sun Belt in 2022-23). The contest is part of the second-annual MAC-Sun Belt Challenge and will tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 CT) with streaming on ESPN+.

        The Rockets are looking to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive league crown. UT is the only current Mid-American Conference program ever to win four straight outright league titles and is returning two starters from last year's squad that posted a 20-12 overall record and 14-4 league mark.

        Toledo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC in this year's preseason poll by the league's head coaches, finishing behind Ohio, Akron and Kent State, and marking the fourth consecutive year UT has not been selected as the preseason favorite. In addition, sophomore Javan Simmons and senior transfer Isaiah Adams were honored by being named to the Preseason All-MAC First- and Second-Team squads, respectively.

        Toledo has played two exhibitions to prepare for its upcoming season. The Rockets posted a 76-71 home victory over NCAA Division II foe Grand Valley State on Oct. 19 before falling by a 96-92 margin at Michigan on Oct. 25. Sophomore Sonny Wilson led the way vs. the Lakers with 15 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Javan Simmons scored a game-high 21 points against the Wolverines. UT trailed by 16 points early in the second half before rallying to within a point, 83-82, with 3:13 remaining.

        Toledo's matchup vs. Troy will be the first meeting between the two programs. The Rockets split their two contests in the MAC-SBC Challenge last year, defeating Louisiana at home by an 87-78 margin and dropping a 109-104 (2OT) decision at App State.

 

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m./6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Troy, Ala.
Arena: Trojan Arena (6,000).
Streaming: ESPN+. Barry McKnight will provide play-by-play with Jerry Miller serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Mark Beier will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst.

SERIES: First meeting.

POST TOUCHES
•  Sophomore Javan Simmons was a unanimous selection for 2023-24 MAC Freshman of the Year and is a member of the 2024-25 Preseason All-MAC First Team. He averaged 12.4 ppg with a team-best 54.0 FG% (4th in MAC). He registered his only two double-doubles of the season at App State (Feb. 10) and vs. Ohio (Feb. 16) and scored a career-high 20 points vs. Buffalo (Jan. 16).
•  Freshman Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year after leading the Rockets with a 2.2 assist/turnover ratio. He also averaged 8.0 ppg and scored a season-high 20 points vs. Buffalo (March 2).
•  Senior transfer Isaiah Adams started 25 of 26 games last year for Buffalo and was the Bulls' second-leading scorer with 12.8 ppg. He dished out a team-high 3.7 apg and ranked third on the team with 4.0 rpg.
•  In two games vs. the Rockets last year, Adams averaged 21.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg with a 60.7 FG% (17-of-28) and a 41.7 three-point FG% (5-of-12).
•  Senior Andre Lorentsson led the MAC with a career-best 47.2 three-point FG% (34-of-72) last year. He averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg and ranked second on team with career-high 34 three-point field goals made.
•  Junior transfer Seth Hubbard led Western Michigan last year with 14.1 ppg, 1.1 spg, and 79.8 FT%. He also grabbed a career-high 3.4 rpg and ranked fifth in the MAC with a team-high 69 three-point field goals.
•  Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk is just one of FIVE ACTIVE head coaches who have won FOUR straight outright conference titles. He joins Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Memphis, UMass) and John Becker (Vermont).
•  Kowalczyk's five MAC titles match former UT coach Bob Nichols for most in program history. His 278 career victories rank second in program history (and sixth in MAC history) behind Nichols' conference-best 376 wins.

TEAM TIDBITS
•  Toledo has registered FOUR straight 20-win seasons as well as SIX 20-win seasons in the last SEVEN years.
•  The Rockets have won their season opener each of the last three seasons, defeating Detroit Mercy at home in 2023-24, Valparaiso at home in 2022-23, and Valparaiso on the road in 2021-22.
•  Toledo is the only MAC school to win 13 or more league games in six of the last seven years.
• The Rockets are 62-13 (.827) in conference play over the last four years. Toledo's 62 conference victories rank FIRST in the nation over that time span.

ROAD WARRIORS
     The Rockets were 8-5 in road games last season and have posted a 34-19 (.642) win-loss mark in road games since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Toledo possesses a 57-39 (.594) win-loss mark on enemy courts since the start of the 2017-18 season.

ON THE HORIZON
     Toledo will travel to Huntington, W. Va. to battle Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 9 before returning to the Glass City to host Wright State in their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 13.