Jan. 3, 2004

Final Stats| Quotes| Notes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Senior guard Keith Triplett scored 22 points and sophomore guard Sammy Villegas had 10 of his 15 during a second-half rally that gave Toledo (8-2, 2-0 MAC) an 88-83 win over Buffalo (5-5, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday night.

Freshman guard Justin Ingram and redshirt freshman center Allen Pinson also contributed big baskets in the surge, which enabled the Rockets to turn a nine-point deficit into a four-point lead with 4:07 remaining.

Mario Jordan led the Bulls with 22 points. Turner Battle added 15 and Jason Bird, Calvin Cage and Mark Bortz each scored 11 for Buffalo.

After Villegas and Jordan exchanged three-pointers, Pinson converted a three-point play and Ingram made a three-pointer in a 10-0 run that gave Toledo a 72-71 lead with 6:28 to play.

Jordan made two free throws for Buffalo's last lead at 73-72. Villegas then scored Toledo's next seven points to cap a 20-7 surge that put the Rockets ahead 79-75.

Buffalo had a five-minute span between field goals down the stretch, preventing the Bulls from taking advantage of Toledo's 5-of-8 free-throw shooting over the final 3:12. The Rockets did convert on 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the line compared to the Bulls' 66.7 percent (22-of-33) showing.

Ingram finished with 14 points and Pinson had 10 for Toledo.

UT will continue its home stretch on Wednesday, Jan. 7 when it hosts Central Michigan (3-8. 0-1 MAC) at Savage Hall. The Chippewas dropped a 72-63 decision to Marshall at home this afternoon in their MAC opener.