March 8, 2007

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CLEVELAND (AP) - Justin Ingram scored 14 points and and grabbed a career-high six steals to help top-seeded Toledo advance to the Mid-American Conference tournament semifinals with a 62-54 win over Eastern Michigan on Thursday.

The Rockets' swarming defense came up with a season-high eight blocked shots, 17 steals and scored 28 points off Eastern Michigan's miscues.

Jonathan Amos was one of four Toledo players in double figures with 13 points and the high-energy sophomore added five steals.

The Rockets (19-11), wearing a No. 3 patch in memory of center Haris Charalambous who collapsed during conditioning and died Oct. 9, are looking for their first title since the tournament's first year in 1980. They will play Miami in Friday's semifinal at 7:00 p.m.

Toledo trailed by seven early but started pressing and forced the Eagles into 21 turnovers, which had been a problem for them all season.

Ingram's steal at midcourt and Keonta Howell's dunk topped a 9-0 run for a 24-15 lead early. Eastern Michigan called time out and the Rockets jumped off their bench and ran to midcourt, Amos waving a towel and screaming.

Eastern Michigan (13-19) briefly regained the lead 36-35 on Justin Dobbins' dunk just after halftime, but the Rockets took control, continuing to frustrate the Eagles with their relentless pressure.

Florentino Valencia scored six straight points underneath as Toledo regained the lead, then went on a 13-2 run to go up by 12. Valencia finished with 10 points.

Dobbins, a 6-foot-8 freshman, led Eastern Michigan with 16 points and nine rebounds.