Rockets Edge EMU 64-63 in MAC Tourney Semifinals

Freshman guard Marreon Jackson nailed a three-point field goal with nine seconds left to give the No. 2 seed Toledo Rockets a dramatic 64-63 victory over the No. 3 seed Eastern Michigan Eagles in semifinal Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament action at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Friday.

Jackson’s clutch three-pointer was his eighth triple of the evening, a career-high, helping him rack up a career-best 26 points on the evening. EMU had a chance to win the game but Kevin McAdoo’s driving shot did not find the mark. The ball went out of bounds after the miss with 0.8 seconds on the clock. Following a video review, the officials ruled that the clock should have run out, thus ending the game at that point.

Toledo (23-10) will play the No. 1 seed Buffalo Bulls (25-8) in the MAC Championship Game Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Jackson’s huge game was especially vital as Toledo was forced to play without senior guard and MAC Player of the Year Tre’Shaun Fletcher, who came out with a knee injury after making a layup on the Rockets’ first possession of the game. His status for tomorrow’s game is unknown.

Another Jackson, sophomore forward Willie Jackson, added a career-high 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Rockets.

Eastern Michigan (21-12) was led by junior guard Paul Jackson’s 26 points.