Jackson lifts Eastern Michigan over Toledo 71-69 in finale

Mar 3, 2018, 01:32 am

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Elijah Minnie scored 25 points, Paul Jackson added 16, including the game-winning 3-point play with 8.8 seconds left, and second-place Eastern Michigan beat first-place Toledo 71-69 on Friday in the Mid-American Conference Western Division finale for both teams.

Both teams have a first-round bye in the 2018 MAC Tournament, where MAC West champion Toledo is the No. 2 seed and EMU is No. 4. But with the loss, the Rockets (21-10, 13-5) miss a chance to tie MAC East Division member Buffalo for the overall regular-season crown.

EMU led 33-31 at halftime and neither team led by more than seven in the second half. Jackson's 3-point play made it 70-69 Eagles. Toledo's Nate Navigato's 3 rimmed out on the next possession, and Ty Groce made one of two from the line to clinch it for Eastern Michigan.

James Thompson IV scored 13 points with two blocks for the Eagles, who shot 51 percent from the field. Tim Bond had six assist and four of EMU's 10 steals.

Navigato scored 28 points with eight 3s and Luke Knapke added 11 points for the Rockets, who hit 10 3s and shot 45 percent.