Friday, January 9
Toledo, Ohio
6:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
vs
Miami
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
Senior Kyler Vanderjagt has led the Rockets in scoring in each of the last two games.
Toledo to Host Undefeated Miami on Friday Night on National TV
1/8/2026 3:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Rockets and RedHawks to tip off at 6:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men's basketball team (9-6, 3-0 MAC) will host Miami (16-0, 4-0 MAC) on Friday, Jan. 9 in Savage Arena in a matchup of two of the Mid-American Conference's four programs that are unbeaten in league play. The contest will tip off at 6:00 p.m. and be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. Fans are encouraged to wear gold as part of a Goldout.
The Rockets have opened their league schedule by rallying from 16-point deficits in wins over Western Michigan (84-79) and Central Michigan (78-75) before leading for nearly the entire game in Tuesday's 75-61 victory at Northern Illinois.
Kyler Vanderjagt topped Toledo offensively for a second-straight contest, tallying 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting against the Huskies. Sonny Wilson also tallied 17 points, a career-high five steals and five assists. He became the 54th Rocket in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau with his first basket of the night.
Toledo controlled the game from the opening tip, building a 37-25 halftime lead. The Rockets shot 50% from the field and dominated the paint with 40 points inside, while scoring 26 points off turnovers. UT's defense set the tone early, holding NIU to a 34.6 FG% in the first half and forcing a season-high 21 turnovers overall.
The Rockets are led by the backcourt trio of Wilson (16.9 ppg), Leroy Blyden Jr. (15.1 ppg), and Vanderjagt (12.8 ppg) along with the frontcourt tandem of Sean Craig (12.8 ppg) and Austin Parks (10.8 ppg). Craig ranks second in the MAC with a team-high 7.8 rpg, with Blyden leading the way with 4.4 apg and 1.8 spg.
Miami is one of six unbeaten teams in the nation. The RedHawks lead the nation with a 53.4 FG% and are third with a 41.6 three-point FG%.
Junior guard Brant Byers leads the RedHawks with 14.8 ppg and senior guard Peter Suder leads the MAC with a 48.5 three-point FG%.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
Tip-Off: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Television: CBS Sports Network. Fran Charles will provide play-by-play with Mike LaTulip 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.
POST TOUCHES
• The Rockets have opened the conference season with three straight victories for a third consecutive year. Toledo started the MAC season with a 5-0 record in its 2023-24 campaign and was 3-0 last year before suffering its first defeat.
• Toledo is averaging 14.0 offensive rebounds per game in league play, including a season-high 21 vs. Western Michigan. Sean Craig leads the MAC in overall games with 3.5 offensive rpg.
• Sonny Wilson scored a then-career high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting in last year's lone meeting vs. Miami.
• Leroy Blyden Jr. and Kyler Vanderjagt are leading the Rockets offensively in their first three conference games with 18.7 ppg. Blyden leads MAC freshmen overall with 15.1 ppg.
• Vanderjagt possesses a 64.0 FG% and a 55.6 3PTFG% (5-of-9) in three MAC games.
• Vanderjagt has scored in double digits in 10 games, including the Rockets' first four contests of the season as well as UT's last four games. He is averaging 17.0 ppg with a 65.6 FG% (21-of-32) and a 61.5 three-point FG% (8-of-13) in his last four contests.
DETAILING FRIDAY'S MATCHUP
• Toledo leads its all-time series vs. Miami by a 71-69 margin and has won its last 11 home games vs. the RedHawks.
• The Rockets' MAC-record 22-game winning streak vs. the RedHawks was snapped with last year's 92-80 defeat in Oxford.
• Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk possesses a 22-2 record vs. Miami in his coaching career.
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC with a 1.52 ASST/TO ratio with Miami ranking third at 1.51.
ROCKETS IN THE NCAA & MAC RANKINGS (thru games played Jan. 7)
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC and 33rd in the nation with its 76.8 FT%. The Rockets are also 13th nationally with 14. 5 personal fouls per game.
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC with a 1.52 assist/turnover ratio and 10.8 turnovers/game, and third with 12.1 offensive rebounds/game and a +3.2 turnover margin.
• Senior Sean Craig ranks first in the MAC with 3.5 offensive rpg and second with 7.8 rpg.
• Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. is fourth in the MAC with 1.6 spg, sixth with 4.4 apg, and tied for 11th with 15.1 ppg.
• Junior Sonny Wilson ranks sixth with 16.9 ppg and seventh with 4.3 apg.
• Junior Austin Parks ranks eighth with 1.0 bpg and 10th with 57.7 FG%.
POSTGAME NOTES FROM TUESDAY'S WIN OVER NIU
• Sonny Wilson has scored in double figures in 32 straight games dating back to last season. Wilson now has scored 1,015 points as a Rocket.
• Kyler Vanderjagt scored in double figures for a fourth straight game.
• Toledo has won seven of its last eight meetings vs. the Huskies as well as seven of its last eight contests in DeKalb.
• Toledo shot 50% or better from the field for the seventh time this season.
ON THE HORIZON
Toledo will host Ohio (9-7, 3-1 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 13 before visiting Kent State (12-3, 3-0 MAC) on Friday, Jan. 16. The Rockets' matchup vs. the Golden Flashes will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network and will tip off at 6:30 p.m.
The Rockets have opened their league schedule by rallying from 16-point deficits in wins over Western Michigan (84-79) and Central Michigan (78-75) before leading for nearly the entire game in Tuesday's 75-61 victory at Northern Illinois.
Kyler Vanderjagt topped Toledo offensively for a second-straight contest, tallying 18 points on 5-of-6 shooting against the Huskies. Sonny Wilson also tallied 17 points, a career-high five steals and five assists. He became the 54th Rocket in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau with his first basket of the night.
Toledo controlled the game from the opening tip, building a 37-25 halftime lead. The Rockets shot 50% from the field and dominated the paint with 40 points inside, while scoring 26 points off turnovers. UT's defense set the tone early, holding NIU to a 34.6 FG% in the first half and forcing a season-high 21 turnovers overall.
The Rockets are led by the backcourt trio of Wilson (16.9 ppg), Leroy Blyden Jr. (15.1 ppg), and Vanderjagt (12.8 ppg) along with the frontcourt tandem of Sean Craig (12.8 ppg) and Austin Parks (10.8 ppg). Craig ranks second in the MAC with a team-high 7.8 rpg, with Blyden leading the way with 4.4 apg and 1.8 spg.
Miami is one of six unbeaten teams in the nation. The RedHawks lead the nation with a 53.4 FG% and are third with a 41.6 three-point FG%.
Junior guard Brant Byers leads the RedHawks with 14.8 ppg and senior guard Peter Suder leads the MAC with a 48.5 three-point FG%.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
Tip-Off: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio.
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Television: CBS Sports Network. Fran Charles will provide play-by-play with Mike LaTulip 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.
POST TOUCHES
• The Rockets have opened the conference season with three straight victories for a third consecutive year. Toledo started the MAC season with a 5-0 record in its 2023-24 campaign and was 3-0 last year before suffering its first defeat.
• Toledo is averaging 14.0 offensive rebounds per game in league play, including a season-high 21 vs. Western Michigan. Sean Craig leads the MAC in overall games with 3.5 offensive rpg.
• Sonny Wilson scored a then-career high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting in last year's lone meeting vs. Miami.
• Leroy Blyden Jr. and Kyler Vanderjagt are leading the Rockets offensively in their first three conference games with 18.7 ppg. Blyden leads MAC freshmen overall with 15.1 ppg.
• Vanderjagt possesses a 64.0 FG% and a 55.6 3PTFG% (5-of-9) in three MAC games.
• Vanderjagt has scored in double digits in 10 games, including the Rockets' first four contests of the season as well as UT's last four games. He is averaging 17.0 ppg with a 65.6 FG% (21-of-32) and a 61.5 three-point FG% (8-of-13) in his last four contests.
DETAILING FRIDAY'S MATCHUP
• Toledo leads its all-time series vs. Miami by a 71-69 margin and has won its last 11 home games vs. the RedHawks.
• The Rockets' MAC-record 22-game winning streak vs. the RedHawks was snapped with last year's 92-80 defeat in Oxford.
• Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk possesses a 22-2 record vs. Miami in his coaching career.
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC with a 1.52 ASST/TO ratio with Miami ranking third at 1.51.
ROCKETS IN THE NCAA & MAC RANKINGS (thru games played Jan. 7)
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC and 33rd in the nation with its 76.8 FT%. The Rockets are also 13th nationally with 14. 5 personal fouls per game.
• Toledo ranks second in the MAC with a 1.52 assist/turnover ratio and 10.8 turnovers/game, and third with 12.1 offensive rebounds/game and a +3.2 turnover margin.
• Senior Sean Craig ranks first in the MAC with 3.5 offensive rpg and second with 7.8 rpg.
• Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. is fourth in the MAC with 1.6 spg, sixth with 4.4 apg, and tied for 11th with 15.1 ppg.
• Junior Sonny Wilson ranks sixth with 16.9 ppg and seventh with 4.3 apg.
• Junior Austin Parks ranks eighth with 1.0 bpg and 10th with 57.7 FG%.
POSTGAME NOTES FROM TUESDAY'S WIN OVER NIU
• Sonny Wilson has scored in double figures in 32 straight games dating back to last season. Wilson now has scored 1,015 points as a Rocket.
• Kyler Vanderjagt scored in double figures for a fourth straight game.
• Toledo has won seven of its last eight meetings vs. the Huskies as well as seven of its last eight contests in DeKalb.
• Toledo shot 50% or better from the field for the seventh time this season.
ON THE HORIZON
Toledo will host Ohio (9-7, 3-1 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 13 before visiting Kent State (12-3, 3-0 MAC) on Friday, Jan. 16. The Rockets' matchup vs. the Golden Flashes will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network and will tip off at 6:30 p.m.
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