Dec. 21, 2005

Final Stats |  Notes

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Sophomore guard Kashif Payne scored a career-high 18 points and Toledo posted a 73-62 win over East Carolina on Wednesday night despite failing to make a basket for almost the last six minutes.

The Rockets (6-2) hit 15 of 22 free throws over the final 5:23. Senior guard Sammy Villegas, who scored 15 points, made Toledo's last field goal, a jumper for a 58-49 lead with 5:56 to play.

Payne was 8-of-8 at the foul line and junior guard Justin Ingram was 6-of-6, all during the closing moments. Toledo went 23-of-32 at the line in the second half after shooting 3-for-8 before halftime.

The Pirates (3-6) lost a 32-28 halftime lead by shooting 27.3 percent (6-for-22) in the second half.

Sam Hinnant led East Carolina with 16 points. Courtney Captain scored 14, and Corey Rouse had 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Junior forward Florentino Valencia added 12 points for the Rockets.

Toledo used a 9-2 run midway through the second half for a nine-point lead at 53-44, its biggest to that point.

The Rockets return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 28 with a 7:00 p.m. contest vs. Oakland University at Savage Hall.