Feb. 14, 2005

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Akron, OH - A three-pointer by sophomore guard Justin Ingram with one second on the clock sent the game to overtime, but Akron was still able to escape with an 81-79 victory over the Rockets on Monday night. Ingram and senior guard Keith Triplett led UT's offense with 16 points apiece.

Romeo Travis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Akron (14-7, 8-5 Mid-American Conference). Bubba Walther added 19 points and Rick McFadden had 18.

Triplett's three-point play with 28 seconds left in overtime gave the Rockets' a 78-77 lead, but the Zips answered on the next possession when McFadden found Travis heading to the basket for a layup.

On the next trip down the court, Triplett couldn't locate senior forward Kareem Milson in the lane and McFadden picked off the pass. He was fouled and hit both free throws for an 81-78 lead with 4.5 seconds left. Dru Joyce then intentionally fouled Ingram at halfcourt, sending him to the line. Ingram hit the first one and intentionally missed the second attempt. Milson corralled the rebound and tried to kick it outside, but time ran out before the Rockets could get off a shot, sending Akron to its 10th win in 11 home games this season.

Travis, McFadden and Bubba Walther, who had 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor, made up for the loss of leading scorer Darryl Peterson. Peterson broke his nose and suffered a concussion during Saturday's practice and was unable to play tonight. He is listed as day-to-day.

Walther was 5 of 8 in 3-point attempts as Akron shot 53 percent from the floor in the game, including 46 percent from long range. The Rockets countered by hitting 48 percent from the field, including 8 of 18 3-pointers.

The Zips were dreadful from the foul line, hitting just 5 of their 14 attempts in regulation. They did, however, connect on 8 of 10 attempts in overtime, including of 4 of 4 by McFadden.

The Zips led 54-47 with 10:14 left in the game when the tandem of Villegas and Triplett gave Toledo its first lead of the second half. Triplett sandwiched a jumper around a pair of Villegas 3-pointers over the next 1:30 for a 55-54 Rockets' advantage.

McFadden answered at 4:59 with a three from the right wing, giving Akron a 59-57 advantage. The lead changed hands four more times down the stretch.

Toledo jumped out to a 15-7 lead with 11:21 remaining in the first half but Akron rallied to take its biggest lead of the first half at 36-29 when Walther canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key off a Travis offensive rebound. Freshman guard Kashif Payne brought UT to within four, 36-32, at the half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

The Rockets return to action on Saturday, Feb. 19 with their final non-conference game of the season vs. SMU at Savage Hall. Tip-off time is 3:00 p.m. and will follow the women's game vs. Kent State that begins at noon.