Jan 7, 2004

Box Score| Quotes| Notes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Sophomore guard Sammy Villegas scored a career-high 27 points to go along with a career-high 12 rebounds to help Toledo (9-2, 3-0 MAC) survive a furious second-half rally in an 83-71 victory over Central Michigan (3-9, 0-2 MAC) at Savage Hall tonight.

Villegas scored six points in the final six minutes as Toledo ended the game with a 15-4 run.

The Rockets used an 18-0 run to take a 29-13 lead midway through the first half and led 50-31 at halftime.

Toledo went scoreless for just under five minutes early in the second period, allowing the Chippewas to cut the lead to seven points at 52-45 with 14:40 to play. David Hoskins scored eight of his 16 points during the second half rally that Central Michigan used to tie the score, 58-58, with about 10 minutes left.

Toledo went on its final run after back-and-forth scoring tied the score again at 68-68 with 6:12 to play.

Senior guard Keith Triplett added 21 points and a season-high seven rebounds for the Rockets, and senior center A.J. Shellabarger had 11.

Senior center Gerrit Brigitha led the Chippewas with a career-high 29 points, and Tony Bowne had 11.

The Rockets will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 10 with a trip to Muncie, IN to meet Ball State (4-6, 1-1 MAC). The Cardinals posted a 76-63 victory over Bowling Green tonight at Worthen Arena to snap a five-game losing streak.