Rockets entertain unbeaten Siena

12/3/2002

The University of Toledo men's basketball team carries a nine-game home winning streak into its Savage Hall opener at 7 tonight against Siena.

The Saints (3-0) are off to their best start since the 1998-99 season, while the cold-shooting Rockets (1-3) are riding a two-game losing streak after losing 69-61 to Youngstown State Saturday.

“Siena's a team with good size and athletic ability and we'll have to play well to come away with a win,'' UT coach Stan Joplin said. “Prosper Karangwa is a guy that's long and lanky and presents a problem for us. They are well-balanced and have good inside and outside players.''

Joplin also said the Rockets will need to keep their turnovers down and come out ready to play.

“We need to take care of the basketball better than we have been and not turn the ball over so much,'' Joplin said. “We can't dig ourselves a hole, and we need everybody to play well, not just two or three players.''

The Rockets notched a 64-61 overtime victory over the Saints last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Saints finished last year with a 17-19 mark after losing to eventual national champion Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.