TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo men's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 30 when it hosts Horizon League foe Oakland (1-4) in Savage Arena. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. with streaming on ESPN+.
       
The contest vs. the Golden Grizzlies will be the Rockets' first contest since posting a runner-up finish at last week's Boardwalk Battle in Daytona Beach, Fla. UT posted victories over Stetson and Jacksonville State before falling to UC San Diego in the tournament's championship game.

Sophomore Sonny Wilson is leading the Rockets with a 16.9 ppg, with sophomore Sam Lewis (12.9), fifth-year senior Isaiah Adams (12.0), sophomore Javan Simmons (11.7) and junior Seth Hubbard (10.4) joining him in double figures.

Wilson possesses the team's best field-goal percentage at 56.3% and is dishing out a team-high 3.9 apg. He also is tied for first on the team with 4.7 rpg and ranks second with 1.3 spg.

Oakland Head Coach Greg Kampe is in his 41st season at the helm of the Golden Grizzlies. The former Rocket assistant coach possesses a 700-541 overall record. Oakland has lost its last four games to Boise State (87-43), Illinois (66-54), Kansas (78-57) and Eastern Michigan (68-64) after opening the season with a 75-52 win over Defiance.

The Golden Grizzlies feature a balanced scoring attack with Buru Naivalurua (11.8), Allen Mukeba (11.3) and DQ Cole (10.0) leading the way.

Toledo posted a 69-68 victory at Oakland last year to register its sixth win in last seven meetings against the Golden Grizzlies. The Rockets have already posted victories over Wright State and Detroit Mercy and possess a seven-game winning streak against Horizon League members. UT has won nine of its last 10 meetings vs. Horizon League schools with its only defeat an 80-59 defeat at Oakland on Nov. 17, 2021.
 
GAME PROMOTIONS
 A Teddy Bear Toss will be held at halftime. Fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or stuffed animal to each game to be tossed onto the court at halftime. The items will then be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio. In addition, Santa Claus will be on the West Concourse for children to visit with an Ugly Holiday Sweater contest and other holiday fun taking place throughout the game.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Streaming: ESPN+. Mason Lowry will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Rhett Boyd 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
Toledo leads 13-7. Toledo has won six of its last seven meetings vs. Oakland with its only defeat an 80-59 road loss in 2021.
 
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 ranks fourth on the team this season with 11.8 ppg and 3.9 rpg. Simmons registered his only two double-doubles last year at App State (Feb. 10) and vs. Ohio (Feb. 16) and scored a career-high 20 points vs. Buffalo (Jan. 16).
•  Sophomore Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year and leads UT with 16.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, a 56.3 FG% and is tied for the team lead with 4.7 rpg.
•  Sophomore Sam Lewis scored a career-high 17 points at Marshall (Nov. 9) and Detroit Mercy (Nov. 16). He is second in team scoring (12.9 ppg) and leads UT with a 47.6 3PTFG%.
•  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 leads UT with 1.6 spg this season and is averaging 12.0 ppg, including a season-high 18 points vs. Wright State (Nov. 13).
•  Senior Andre Lorentsson led the MAC with a career-best 47.2 three-point FG% (34-of-72) last year and is averaging 5.6 ppg this season. 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 is the Rockets' top scorer off the bench with 10.4 ppg and is tied for the team lead with Sam Lewis with 10 three-point field goals made.
 
NOTES FROM THE BOARDWALK BATTLE
•   Toledo's 14 three-point field goals vs. Jacksonville State were its most since burying 14 vs. Oakland on Nov. 16, 2022.
•   The Rockets' 56.9 field-goal percentage vs. Stetson was a season high and the third time this season UT made more than half of its shots.
•   Toledo registered a season-low four turnovers vs. Jacksonville State.
•   The Rockets matched their season-high assist total with 18 against both Stetson and Jacksonville State.
•   Sonny Wilson was named to the Boardwalk Battle's all-tournament team and eads the Rockets with three 20-point outings, including a 21-point, six-assist effort vs. Stetson.
•   Sam Lewis' four three-point field goals were a career high and the most by a Rocket this season.
•   Senior Andre Lorentsson scored a season-high 12 points vs. Jacksonville State.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
     Toledo is 51-7 (.879) over the last four-plus seasons in Savage Arena. UT was 8-1 in conference play last year and had a 15-game MAC home winning streak snapped with a 75-72 loss to Northern Illinois (Feb. 27). The Rockets' other home defeats last season came to George Mason and Vermont. UT also lost to Ball State last year, Dayton and Kent State in the 2021-22 season and Bowling Green in the 2020-21 campaign.
     The Rockets' home records over the three years prior to the 2023-24 campaign were 13-1 (2022-23), 13-2 (2021-22) and 12-1 (2020-21).
     The Rockets' unbeaten home mark (15-0) under Coach Kowalczyk in 2013-14 was their first since 1966-67 and just the fourth time in school history UT accomplished the feat.

PARKING
Free parking for the game is available in Lots 1 and 2. Lots 3, 4, 5, and 6 require parking passes. For all other lots, vehicles must be registered at parkutoledo.com.
 
ON THE HORIZON
     Toledo will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 7 for a home matchup vs. Defiance College. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.