Nov 21, 2003

Box Score| Quotes| Notes

FORT WAYNE, IN - Entering the 2003-04 campaign, Toledo Head Coach Stan Joplin stressed three areas his team needed to improve on from a year ago. The Rockets satisfied all those goals and more in their 71-53 triumph at IPFW tonight in the season opener for both teams.

The first area Joplin wanted to see improvement was defense. The Rockets held IPFW to 53 points as well as 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 15.4 percent from behind the three-point line.

The second part of the game Joplin sought better production from was rebounding. UT held a 37-32 advantage on the boards led by sophomore guard Chauncey Shelton's game- and career-high eight rebounds. The Rockets also limited the Mastodons to one offensive rebound in the second half.

The third facet Joplin stressed was taking care of the basketball. Toledo committed just 10 turnovers in the contest marking just the second time in its last 46 contests it has committed 10 or fewer miscues in a game.

Senior guard Keith Triplett and sophomore guard Sammy Villegas led the Rockets offensively with 17 and 16 points, respectively. In addition, Toledo's bench played a key role in the victory with a 25-7 edge over the Mastodons' reserves led by senior center A.J. Shellabarger (10 pts.) and freshman forward Florentino Valencia (nine pts.).

UT took control of the contest with 12-0 run midway through the first half keyed by Shellabarger's five points to take a 26-15 led with 7:33 remaining. The Rockets saw their lead cut to 31-25 two minutes before halftime but six straight points by Triplett gave UT a 37-25 halftime cushion.

Toledo put the game away midway through the second half after IPFW had cut its deficit to nine. Freshman point guard Justin Ingram ignited a 7-0 run with a trey that was followed by a Villegas jumper and a Shelton layup. UT's lead then grew to as many as 21 points before the Rockets settled for their 18-point win.

Toledo will open its home campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 26 vs. Youngstown State at Savage Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.