TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo men's basketball team will look to extend its three-game winning streak on Thursday, Nov. 21 when it takes on Stetson in the opening round of the Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Rockets' matchup vs. the Hatters (1-3) will be the final contest of the day at the Ocean Center and tip off at approximately 6:00 p.m. Streaming will be provided at BallerTV.com. The Rockets will face either East Carolina or Jacksonville State on Friday. Also competing in the three-day tournament in the Sunshine State are UIC, James Madison, La Salle and UC San Diego.

DAY ONE SCHEDULE
11:00 a.m. - James Madison vs. UIC
1:00 p.m. - La Salle vs. UC San Diego
3:30 p.m. - East Carolina vs. Jacksonville State
5:30 p.m. - Toledo vs. Stetson
NOTE: Streaming is available at https://www.ballertv.com/gazelle-group for a cost of $5.00/game.

The Rockets (3-1) are coming off an 82-67 win at Detroit Mercy last Saturday. UT held a 36-35 advantage at halftime before pulling away for a double-digit victory. Sonny Wilson led the way offensively with a career-high 22 points and also tied his career high with six assists. Sam Lewis tied his career high with 17 points and hauled down a career-best eight rebounds.

Toledo shot 44.6% from the field and committed a season-low eight turnovers. The Rockets limited the Titans to a 43.1 shooting mark and forced 16 turnovers. UT also held a decided advantage at the free-throw line, knocking down 18-of-24 shots compared to Detroit's 9-of-16 totals.

Wilson leads the Rockets with 18.8 ppg, with Lewis and Javan Simmons contributing 14.0 ppg. Isaiah Adams is also scoring in double figures with 13.5 ppg. Adams and Wilson are grabbing a team-high 5.8 rpg, with Wilson setting the pace with 4.0 apg and a 62.2 FG%.

Stetson enters the Boardwalk Battle with a three-game losing streak following Saturday's 84-65 setback at Oklahoma. The Hatters made the NCAA Tournament for the first time last year before falling to eventual champion UConn in the first round, 91-52. Stetson has seven newcomers this season with six of those being transfers.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
Tip-Off: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Arena: Ocean Center (8,020).
Streaming: BallerTV.com.
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
Toledo leads 1-0. The Rockets posted a 73-66 home win over the Hatters on Dec. 29, 1995 in the only meeting between the two schools.

SONNY WILSON HONORED BY USBWAA AND MAC
Sonny Wilson was selected as one of five Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week by the USBWAA in addition to MAC Player of the Week. Wilson averaged 21.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 4.5 apg and registered a 66.7 FG% in wins over Wright State and Detroit Mercy.

Wilson opened the week by tying his career high with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting and eight rebounds in an 86-77 win over Wright State in the Rockets' home opener. He then poured in a career-high 22 points and tied his career high with six assists in UT's 82-67 road win at Detroit Mercy.

ROCKETS IN THE RANKINGS
Toledo is the only MAC school to be ranked in the CollegeInsiders.com Top 25 poll. UT is ranked No. 12, with Kent State, Akron and Central Michigan receiving votes.

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 is tied for second on the team with 14.0 ppg and fourth with 5.0 rpg.
• Sophomore Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year and leads UT with 18.8 ppg to go along with 5.8 rpg, 4.0 apg and a team-high 62.2 FG%.
• Sophomore Sam Lewis has scored a career-high 17 points at Marshall (Nov. 9) and at Detroit Mercy (Nov. 16). He is tied for second in team scoring with 14.0 ppg.
•  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 is averaging 13.5 ppg this season, including a season-high 18 points vs. Wright State (Nov. 13).
•  Junior transfer Seth Hubbard led Western Michigan last year with 14.1 ppg, 1.1 spg, and 79.8 FT%. He is the Rockets' top scorer off the bench with 8.8 ppg.
•  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.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Rockets are 2-1 in road games this season and have posted a 36-20 (.643) win-loss mark in road games since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Toledo possesses a 59-40 (.596) win-loss mark on enemy courts since the start of the 2017-18 season.

ON THE HORIZON
Toledo will face either East Carolina or Jacksonville State on Friday. UT will then face UIC, James Madison, La Salle or UC San Diego on Saturday. The Rockets will then return home to host Oakland on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m.