The Toledo men’s basketball team (27-7, 16-2 MAC) will continue its historic season when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. to meet Michigan (17-15, 11-9 Big Ten) in a first-round National Invitation Tournament matchup on Tuesday, March 14.
The contest will be televised on ESPN2. Tip off in the Crisler Center is at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for $25 through the Rocket Ticket Office through 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 14. All tickets will be digital. After the deadline, tickets must be purchased through the Michigan Ticket Office.
Tickets can be ordered at UTRockets.com/tix, by calling 419-530-GOLD (4653) or in person at the Rocket Ticket Office.
The University of Toledo Alumni Association also will host a NIT pregame event at Buffalo Wild Wings in Ann Arbor located at 3150 Boardwalk Dr. from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more information or to reserve your spot visit the Alumni Association website.
The Rockets’ 27 victories are tied for the most in school history and are the most of any school in this year’s NIT field. Toledo saw its school-record 17-game winning streak end on Saturday with a 93-78 defeat to No. 2 seed Kent State (28-6) in the MAC Championship Game.
RayJ Dennis and Setric Millner Jr. each scored a team-high 25 points against the Golden Flashes were named to the All-Tournament Team. Toledo shot 25-of-59 (42.4%) from the floor, the first time in the last nine games the Rockets were held under 50%. Kent State connected on 34-of-61 (55.7%), including a sizzling 20-of-28 (71.4%) in the second half. The game was close throughout until KSU pulled away in the final five minutes.
Toledo ranks second nationally with 85.6 ppg, trailing only Gonzaga (87.5). UToledo also is second with a 39.7 PTFG%, fourth with a 49.6 FG%, and ranks in the nation’s Top 20 in six more categories. Dennis ranks second in the MAC with a team-high 19.7 ppg, while JT Shumate and Millner Jr. are tied for ninth at 16.0 ppg.
Toledo is making its 12th NIT appearance in school history and has an all-time record of 3-11. The Rockets faced Michigan in the 1981 NIT and were defeated by an 80-68 margin in Ann Arbor. Mike McGee led the Wolverines with 25 points, while UT’s Harvey Knuckles finished with 27 points and seven rebounds.
The Rockets will enter Tuesday’s game with an eight-game road winning streak that ranks second in the nation. Toledo’s last meeting vs. the Wolverines resulted in a 91-71 road loss on Dec. 9, 2020. Michigan leads the all-time series, 14-8.
