GAME NOTES: Attempting to turn around a two-game skid, the Toledo Rockets will hit the road to face the Cleveland State Vikings in a non-conference, intrastate clash at Wolstein Center.

Toledo opened the 2014-15 season with a resounding win over Northern Arizona (71-58), but has since dropped four of its last five games, including the last two in a row. The Rockets were defeated by Detroit (82-79) and Oakland (81-79) in consecutive one-possession contests.

Cleveland State was also on a two-game losing streak and was in danger of dropping a third in a row, but the Vikings managed to outlast Marshall, 68-59, in the team's most recent clash to end the streak.

These two in-state rivals have met 12 times on the hardwood, with Cleveland State owning the 7-5 all-time series lead. The programs clashed last season in Toledo, with the Rockets winning a tight 71-67 contest.

Oakland was off to a dismal start to the season at 1-5 before Toledo went to the Athletic Center O'rena and dropped a two-point game to the Golden Grizzlies. The Rockets allowed Oakland to shoot 55.1 percent from the floor in the game, and make 10-of-20 from 3-point range. Jonathan Williams led all scorers for Toledo with 19 points in the loss, connecting on 4-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Justin Drummond netted 16 points with seven rebounds, and Julius Brown contributed 13 points in the losing effort for a Toledo team that sunk 42.6 percent of their shot attempts from the floor.

The Rockets are a very capable team offensively, netting 77.8 ppg through six contests. But the problem for Toledo has been on the defensive end, as the team allows 75.2 ppg to be scored against it. Brown leads Toledo this season with a 15.0 ppg average, adding in 28 assists to top the squad. Drummond is second at 12.8 ppg, J.D. Weatherspoon contributes 12.0 ppg with a team-best 6.4 rpg mark, and Williams adds in 11.8 ppg. Nathan Boothe rounds out the team's five double-digit scorers with an 11.8 ppg average - identical to Williams' mark.

Cleveland State gained an 11-point lead over Marshall in the Vikings' most recent outing, and never looked back. The visiting squad shot 41.1 percent from the floor, and buried 9-of-21 from 3-point range to coast to the win over the Thundering Herd. Marlin Mason netted a team-high 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from distance, while Anton Grady chipped in with 17 points. Trey Lewis contributed 14 points and seven assists, which was a team best. Terrell Hales came off the bench and led the Vikings in rebounding with six boards on the night.

Cleveland State is doing an adequate job this season without one of its best scorers from last year's campaign in Bryn Forbes, who transferred to Michigan State following the 2013-14 season. The Vikings are scoring 67.0 ppg through six contests, and are led by Lewis' 17.0 ppg average. Grady checks in at 12.2 ppg, and Mason is netting 12.0 ppg in six starts. Grady leads the squad with a 5.8 rpg average, while Lewis tops the team at 4.0 apg. The Vikings defensively are giving up 61.8 ppg this season, and are holding opponents to 42 percent shooting from the floor. Charlie Lee's six-game suspension has officially been served, so he should be available to play in this one.

Toledo has a very explosive offense, led by all five starters who net double figures per game. But the team hasn't found a way to piece it together defensively yet. This could be a good opportunity for the Rockets to hit the road and pick up a much-needed win against a solid Cleveland State team that isn't getting as much offense as it would like.