TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo men's basketball team will play its only game this week when it hosts Defiance College (3-7) in Savage Arena on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m. with streaming on ESPN+.

Sophomore Sonny Wilson is leading the Rockets (5-3) with 16.4 ppg, with sophomore Sam Lewis (12.5), sophomore Javan Simmons (11.5), and fifth-year senior Isaiah Adams (11.3) joining him in double figures. Wilson possesses the team's best field-goal percentage at 54.8% and is dishing out a team-high 3.4 apg. He also is tied for third on the team with 4.4 rpg and ranks second with 1.1 spg.

Toledo will be looking to rebound from Saturday's 85-52 defeat to Oakland. The Rockets trailed 27-23 with 2:34 left in the first half, but a 19-4 spurt gave the Golden Grizzlies a 46-27 commanding lead five minutes after the break.

Wilson paced the Rockets with 13 points against Oakland and was joined in double figures by Lewis and Simmons with 10 points apiece. Simmons topped Toledo with eight rebounds, while Adams and junior Seth Hubbard each dished out a team-high four assists.

The Rockets' contest vs. the Yellow Jackets will be their only home game until hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 7. UT's next four games prior to returning to Savage Arena will be at Youngstown State (Dec. 14), Houston (Dec. 18), Purdue (Dec. 29) and Western Michigan (Jan. 4).

Toledo is the second of four NCAA Division I foes that Defiance will be facing this season. The Yellow Jackets dropped a 75-52 decision to Oakland on Nov. 4 and will face Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 20) and Miami (Dec. 30) later this month.

GAME PROMOTIONS
An Ugly Holiday Sweater contest and other holiday fun will take place throughout the game so fans are encouraged to wear their favorite sweater to win a prize. In addition, fans who purchase a ticket to attend Saturday's game can turn their ticket in for a free one following a Rockets' victory. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Tip-Off: 2:00 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 15-13. The last meeting between the Rockets and Yellow Jackets resulted in a 92-39 Toledo win on Dec. 2, 1948..

POST TOUCHES
•  Sophomore Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year and leads UT with 16.4 ppg, 3.4 apg, and a 54.8 FG% and is tied for third with 4.4 rpg.
•  Wilson is the only Rocket to score in double figures in every game this season.
•  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 third on the team this season with 11.5 ppg and 4.4 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 (12.5 ppg) and leads UT with a 45.8 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 1.4 spg this season and is averaging 11.3 ppg, 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 9.4 ppg and ranks second on the team with 10 three-point field goals made.
 
PROTECTING THE BASKETBALL & DEFENDING WITHOUT FOULING
•  Toledo ranks among the national leaders in fewest turnovers per game, averaging a MAC-best 9.0 miscues per game.
•  The Rockets also rank 37th with a 1.58 assist/turnover ratio.
•  Toledo also ranks 17th nationally with 13.9 fouls per game. The Rockets have registered 32 more free-throw attempts than its opponents for an average of 4.0 FT attempts per game.

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. 14 when it travels to Youngstown State. Tip-off time vs. the Penguins is set for 1:00 p.m. in the Beeghly Center.