Feb. 19, 2005

Final Stats

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Florentino Valencia and Keith Triplett took over during scoring second-half scoring spurts to help Toledo hold off SMU 78-67 on Saturday.

Triplett scored 16 points, Valencia and Keonta Howell each had 15 and Justin Ingram chipped in with 10 for the Rockets (13-11), who hit 53 percent of their shots from the field.

Devon Pearson, Eric Castro and Bryan Hopkins had 18 points apiece for the Mustangs (12-11).

SMU trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half but cut the deficit to 45-44 on Pearson's layup with 12:49 remaining in the game. Valencia then scored the next six Toledo points on two jumpers and a dunk to give the Rockets a 51-46 lead.

After Castro's layup cut the lead to 51-50 midway through the half, Triplett hit three free throws and a basket to push the lead back to six with 8 minutes remaining. The Mustangs never got closer than four points again.