TOLEDO, Ohio -- Jaelan Sanford set career highs with 31 points and eight assists to help Toledo beat Saint Joseph's 98-87 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night.
The Rockets jumped to an 18-4 lead to start the game and never trailed despite a late challenge from the Hawks. Saint Joseph's closed the deficit all the way to 66-64 when Shavar Newkirk made a trio of free throws with 9:44 left in the game.
Nate Navigato's 3-pointer ended that run and sparked an 18-6 Toledo run from which the Rockets never looked back.