By Packy Moore
Performance Dogs of Ohio to serve as halftime entertainment
GAME NOTES PDF
https://utrockets.com/documents/2024/11/12/2024-25_MBB_Game_Notes-Game_3_vs._Wright_State.pdf
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo men’s basketball team will open its 2024-25 home season on Wednesday, Nov. 13 with a non-conference matchup against Horizon League foe Wright State (2-1). The contest will tip off at 7:00 p.m. inside Savage Arena with streaming on ESPN+.
The Rockets (1-1) have split their first two games on the road. UT rebounded from a season-opening 84-74 setback at Troy with a wire-to-wire 90-80 triumph at Marshall on Saturday. Five Rockets scored 15 or more points against the Thundering Herd with fifth-year senior Isaiah Adams and sophomore Sam Lewis setting the pace with 17 points. Joining the duo in double digits were sophomores Javan Simmons and Sonny Wilson with 16 points as well as junior Seth Hubbard chipping in 15 points off the bench.
Toledo was efficient offensively, shooting 52.5% from the field and committing just nine turnovers. The Rockets also knocked down 24-of-32 free-throw attempts and held a 39-36 rebounding advantage.
Simmons leads the Rockets with 17.5 ppg, with Wilson (16.5), Lewis (14.5) and Adams (13.0) also scoring in double figures. Simmons and Adams are both grabbing a team-high 7.0 rpg, while Wilson is leading UT with 3.5 apg.
Head Coach Clint Sargent is in his first season at the helm of the Raiders after serving on Scott Nagy’s staff for the past eight years. WSU bounced back from a 103-62 loss at Kentucky with a home win over Ohio Christian (89-60) and at Miami (81-68). Senior Alex Huibregtse leads the Raiders with 21.3 ppg and a 52.6 three-point FG% (52.6), while junior Brandon Noel is averaging a double-double with 21.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg.
Toledo posted a 78-77 victory at Wright State last year to snap a three-game losing streak in its series vs. the Raiders. The back-and-forth contest featured 19 lead changes with the Rockets coming up with two big defensive stops in the final minute to pull out the win.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Arena: Savage Arena (7,014).
Streaming: ESPN+. Mason Lowry will provide play-by-play 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
Wright State leads 8-7. Toledo snapped a three-game losing streak in its series vs. the Raiders last year with an 88-87 win in the Nutter Center.
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 is leading the Rockets this season with 17.5 ppg and tied for first on the team with 7.0 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).
• Freshman Sonny Wilson earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team last year and ranks second on the team with 16.5 ppg to go along with a team-best 3.5 apg, a 57.1 FG% and an 88.9 FT%.
• 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 is averaging 13.0 ppg this season, including a season-high 17 points and seven rebounds at Marshall on Saturday.
• Junior transfer Seth Hubbard led Western Michigan last year with 14.1 ppg, 1.1 spg, and 79.8 FT%. He scored a season-high 15 points at Marshall on Saturday.
• Sophomore Sam Lewis scored a career-high 17 points on Saturday at Marshall.
NOTES FROM THE ROCKETS’ 90-80 WIN AT MARSHALL
• Five Rockets scored 15 points or more. Seth Hubbard and Sam Lewis topped Toledo in the first half with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Isaiah Adams tallied a team-high 13 points in the second half, with Javan Simmons (12 pts.) and Sonny Wilson (10 pts.) also scoring double digits.
• Sam Lewis tallied a career-high 17 points and matched his career best with four rebounds.
• Jaylan Ouwinga received his first collegiate start.
• Toledo’s win over Marshall was its sixth victory in last seven meetings vs. the Thundering Herd.
HOME SWEET HOME
Toledo is 50-7 (.877) over the last four seasons in Savage Arena. UT was 8-1 in conference play last year and extended its conference home winning streak to 15 games before a 75-72 loss to Northern Illinois Feb. 27. The Rockets finished 12-3 (.800) at Savage Arena last year.
FREE-THROW FOCUS
Toledo has ranked in the top two of the MAC in free-throw shooting and posted a 72.5 FT% or higher in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The Rockets have done even better dating back to the 2018-19 season, shooting 74.0% or better each year including a 79.6% mark this season which ranks first.
Sonny Wilson is leading UT at 88.9% and is followed by Jaylan Ouwinga (85.7), Javan Simmons (84.6) and Seth Hubbard (83.3).
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 head to the Motor City to face Detroit Mercy (2-1) on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tip-off time is set for 4:00 p.m. in Calihan Hall.
COURTESY TOLEDO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
