Feb. 28, 2004

Final Stats| Quotes| Notes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Senior guard Keith Triplett equaled his season high with 29 points and senior forward Ricardo Thomas scored a season-high 16 points to lead Toledo to a 93-84 win over Western Michigan on Saturday. The win clinched at least the No. 4 seed in the 2004 MAC Tournament which begins with first-round play on Monday, March 8.

Triplett hit eight of 10 free throws and made three of six 3-pointers. Freshman guard Justin Ingram also had 14 points and five assists for the Rockets (17-9, 11-6 Mid-American Conference).

Western Michigan (21-4, 13-3) led 42-40 at the half after the two teams tied seven times. Toledo jumped out ahead at the start of the second half, going on a 6-0 run. After Western Michigan tied it up for the sixth time, 68-68 with 7:48 remaining, Toledo went on an 18-6 run to stay ahead for good.

Thomas led the Rockets' spurt with a pair of back-to-back dunks to give the Rockets a 75-70 lead with just over six minutes remaining. Triplett followed with five more points and sophomore guard Sammy Villegas knocked down a three-pointer for an 83-74 lead with 3:58 to play.

Western Michigan had 22 fouls compared with 13 for Toledo and made 16-of-17 free throws while Toledo made 20-of-25.

Ben Reed led Western Michigan with 26 points, five rebounds and three assists. Anthony Kann had 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

The Rockets wrap up their regular season on Wednesday, March 3 with a trip to Mt. Pleasant, MI to face Central Michigan (5-21, 1-14 MAC). The Chippewas will travel to DeKalb, IL on Monday, March 1 prior to hosting the Rockets.