TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo men's basketball team (6-6) opens its 74th Mid-American Conference season on Saturday, Jan. 4 when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face Western Michigan (3-9). Tip-off time is set for 12:00 p.m. at University Arena with streaming on ESPN+.

The four-time defending MAC champion Rockets are looking to continue their historical run that saw them become the first current league member to capture four consecutive league titles. UT has won 12 conference titles in program history and holds a 62-13 (.827 record) in conference play over the last four seasons, including a 14-4 mark last year. The Rockets' 62 conference wins ranks first in the nation during that span.

Sophomore Sonny Wilson is leading Toledo with 15.0 ppg, with sophomore Sam Lewis (13.8), sophomore Javan Simmons (11.3), and fifth-year senior Isaiah Adams (10.0) joining him in double figures. Junior Seth Hubbard is UT's top scorer off the bench at 9.0 ppg.

Wilson is dishing out a team-high 3.2 apg and is second on the team with 1.1 spg. Lewis leads Toledo with 5.4 rpg and ranks second in the MAC with a 51.5 three-point FG%, while Simmons possesses a team-high 55.3 FG%.

The Rockets are looking to snap a three-game losing streak that has included back-to-back setbacks at No. 12/15 Houston and No. 21/25 Purdue.

Western Michigan enters Saturday's contest on a five-game losing streak with its last victory coming with 73-62 win at Youngstown State on Nov. 27. The Penguins have since won  eight games in a row, including a 93-87 triumph over Toledo on Dec. 14. WMU tops the MAC with a plus 5.4 rebounding margin but is last with a 65.3 FT% and 3PTFG/game (5.5).

Junior Chansey Willis Jr. is leading the Broncos with 15.8 apg and 5.8 apg in four games after missing WMU's first eight contests due to injury. Also scoring in double digits are Markhi Strickland (12.1), Owen Lobsinger (11.1) and JaVaughn Hannah (10.6).
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Tip-Off: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Arena: University Arena (5,421).
Streaming: ESPN+. Evan Stockton will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Rob Murphy 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 94-63. Toledo has won 13 straight games vs. WMU by an average margin of 19.5 ppg. The Rockets are making their first trip to Kalamazoo since 2022. UT's last loss to WMU was a 61-56 (OT) home defeat in 2017.

POST TOUCHES
•  Toledo's three home games this season are the fewest of any MAC school to date.
•  The Rockets also entered conference play last year with a 6-6 record and ended up winning a fourth straight outright MAC title.
•  Toledo is facing WMU in only one conference game this season for a third straight year and is making its first trip to Kalamazoo since the 2021-22 campaign.
•  Sophomore Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year and leads UT with 15.0 ppg and 3.2 apg. He ranks ninth in the MAC with 15.0 ppg, tied for third with a 1.90 assist/turnover ratio and eighth with a 53.0 FG%.
•  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 leads UT with a 55.3 FG%, is tied for second with 4.3 rpg, and is third with 11.3 ppg,
•  Sophomore Sam Lewis scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds at Youngstown State (Dec. 14). He also registered his first career double-double with 13 points and a career-best 11 boards at Purdue (Dec. 29). He is second in team scoring (13.8 ppg) and also second in the MAC with a team-best 51.5 3PTFG%
 
TALKING CONFERENCE OPENERS
• Toledo has an all-time mark of 38-35 in MAC openers and is 17-25 in road lid-lifters.
• The Rockets are 7-5 vs. Western Michigan in MAC openers. The last time Toledo opened league play vs. the Broncos was with an 83-56 home win on Dec. 29, 2021.

PROTECTING THE BASKETBALL & DEFENDING WITHOUT FOULING
•   Toledo ranks among the national leaders in fewest turnovers per game, averaging a MAC-best 9.6 miscues per game.
•   UT is tied for 14th nationally, with Auburn & South Alabama tied for first at 8.8.
•   Toledo is tied for 36th nationally with 14.7 fouls per game despite being whistled for a season-high 24 fouls at Youngstown State (Dec. 14). The Rockets have registered 51 more free-throw attempts than its opponents for an average of 4.3 FT attempts per game.
  
ON THE HORIZON
     Toledo will play its first Mid-American Conference home game on Tuesday, Jan. 7 vs. Eastern Michigan (6-6). The Rockets will then host Central Michigan (6-6) on Friday, Jan. 10 before traveling to Akron (7-5) on Tuesday, Jan. 14.