TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's basketball team (12-8, 6-2 MAC) begins a three-home homestand when it hosts Northern Illinois (5-15, 1-7 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 1. The contest will tip off at 2:00 p.m. in Savage Arena and be streamed on ESPN+.

Saturday's contest will be the eighth-annual "Rockets for Life" game with UT and Life Connection of Ohio teaming up to promote awareness for organ donation in Northwest Ohio. In addition, Saturday's halftime show will feature the incredible balance and unicycle artistry of Jonathan Rinny, whose gravity-defying skills and crowd-pleasing tricks will keep fans on the edge of their seat.

The Rockets are currently in third place in the Mid-American Conference standings, trailing first-place Akron (15-5, 8-0) by two games and second-place Miami (15-5, 7-1) by a single game.

The four-time defending MAC champion Rockets are coming off of back-to-back road victories over Bowling Green (84-71) and Ohio (86-83). Isaiah Adams and Sonny Wilson each scored 18 points in UT's double-digit win over the Falcons, while Bryce Ford, Seth Hubbard, Sam Lewis and Wilson each scored 15 points apiece to give the Rockets their seventh consecutive win over the Bobcats.

Wilson and Lewis are leading Toledo with 15.3 and 14.4 ppg, respectively. Simmons is averaging 12.2 and a team-high 6.1 rpg, while Adams checks in with 10.8 ppg. Ford and Lewis are the MAC's top two perimeter shooters. Ford leads the way with a 45.3 3PTFG% with Lewis right behind him with a 44.3 mark.

Northern Illinois posted its only league win with a 76-66 home victory over Ball State last Saturday. UT's meeting against the Huskies will be the only one this season between the two schools.

Quentin Jones ranks fourth in the MAC with 16.2 ppg and is dishing out a team-high 3.5 apg. James Dent Jr. and Quaran McPherson are also scoring in double digits with 13.6 and 11. 2 ppg, respectively. The Huskies rank last in the MAC in FG% (40.8) and rebounding margin (minus-8.5).
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.
Tip-Off: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Television: 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.
 
ROCKET ROUNDUP
• Javan Simmons ranks second in the MAC with 2.8 offensive rpg and is second in league play with 8.6 rpg.
• Sonny Wilson leads MAC guards with a 52.6 FG%.
• Toledo tied its season high with an 88.2 FT% (15-of-17) and has a 78.4 FT% in MAC play.
• Five or more Rockets scored in double figures for the ninth time.
• Toledo has won seven in a row as well as 12 of its last 13 meetings vs. Ohio. The Rockets have also won their last seven games in Athens.
• The Rockets are 68-15 (.819) in league play and 32-10 (.762) in MAC road games since the start of the 2020-21 season.

ROAD WARRIORS
     The Rockets are 6-5 in road games this season and have posted a 40-24 (.625) win-loss mark in road games since the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Toledo possesses a 63-43 (.594) win-loss mark on enemy courts since the start of the 2017-18 season.

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
     The Rockets will continue their three-game homestand when they host Buffalo (7-13, 2-6 MAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and James Madison (12-9) on Saturday, Feb. 8.