Jan. 2, 2005

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

YPSILANTI, MI - Toledo (4-6, 0-1 MAC) let an eight-point second-half lead slip away in its conference opener this afternoon en route to a 75-70 setback at Eastern Michigan (8-3, 2-0 MAC). Senior G Keith Triplett paced the Rockets' attack with a game-high 22 points, while senior G Michael Ross led the Eagles' offense with 17 points.

EMU also was buoyed by the frontcourt tandem of junior John Bowler (16 pts, 9 reb.) and senior James Jackson (13 pts., career-high 17 reb.), who helped the Eagles to a 20-10 rebound advantage in the second half. UT was hurt on the boards by an injury to sophomore C Allen Pinson, who played only 15 minutes in the contest after spraining an ankle in the early stages of the first half.

After a back-and-forth first half that featured 13 lead changes, the Rockets appeared to take control midway through the second stanza. UT surged to a seven-point lead with 10:12 remaining and led by as many as eight points with 8:10 to play.

EMU answered back though with an 8-0 run and tied the contest on a three by freshman guard Darryl Garrett. Triplett answered back with a trey from the left corner to put UT up, 66-63, with 5:44 remaining. The Eagles climbed to within a point, 66-65, on a Ross layup with 4:22 to play and took a one-point lead on a Ross jumper with 2:38 on the clock.

Triplett made one of two free throws to tie the score at 67-67 with 2:38 left and Garrett followed with one of two free throws with 1:52 remaining. Triplett then tried to give UT the lead when he drove to the basket but his shot was blocked by Bowler with 1:46 left. Garrett extended EMU's lead to three on a layup with 1:23 remaining.

Ingram then almost had a three-point play to tie the game with 57.7 seconds remaining but his driving lay-up didn't fall. He then made only one of two free throws to leave UT down by a 70-68 margin. Bowler then knocked down a pair of free throws for a four-point lead with 40.2 seconds remaining. Ross then stole the ball from the Rockets' Sammy Villegas before he could get a three-pointer off with 21 seconds to play.

The Eagles held Toledo to one field goal in the final 5:40.

The Rockets return to action on Thursday, Jan. 6 with their MAC home opener vs. Akron.