Jan 14, 2004

Final Stats| Quotes| Notes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Senior guard Keith Triplett scored a game-high 18 points to go along with seven rebounds, and Toledo (10-3, 4-1 MAC) withstood a late rally to register a 68-65 win over Marshall (5-7, 2-3 MAC) tonight. The win improved UT's home mark to 5-0 and was played before a season-high 6,277 fans at Savage Hall.

Triplett's two free throws with 48 seconds left put Toledo ahead by 11 points at 67-56 before the Thundering Herd went on a 9-1 run to close the game thanks to the Rockets missing eight-of-11 free throws in the final 1:25. UT finished the game by equalling its season low from the charity stripe at 44.4 percent (12-of-27).

Marshall's Tre Whitted made two 3-pointers and Enoch Bunch hit a third in the game's final 18 seconds. Whitted finished with 10 points and Eric Smith had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead Marshall.

Senior center A.J. Shellabarger registered his second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Toledo led 31-25 at halftime and stayed ahead throughout the entire second half. Marshall cut the Rockets' lead to 34-33 just over four minutes into the half but UT responded with a 9-0 run for some breathing room. The Thundering Herd climbed to within four points on four separate occasions in the final seven minutes but Toledo was able to hold off each challenge.

The Rockets shot 44.8 percent from the floor, while the Thundering Herd's field goal percentage was 38.1.

Toledo will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Savage Hall when it battles Akron (7-5, 1-3 MAC) as part of the Rockets' Youth Night.