March 8, 2004

TOLEDO, OH - Toledo's Justin Ingram (Lansing, MI - Waverly HS) was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and selected to the MAC's All-Freshman Team, the league office announced today. The Freshman of the Year award was voted on by the MAC News Media Association and the All-Freshman team was selected by the league's head coaches.

Ingram has started all of the Rockets' 27 games at point guard averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game and is leading all MAC freshmen in assist/turnover ratio (1.81) and three-point field goals per game (1.5). In addition, he is second among all MAC freshmen in points, assists and steals. In the overall rankings, Ingram ranks seventh in assist/turnover ratio, ninth in assists and is tied for 12th in steals.

Ingram is the fifth Rocket to earn this honor and the third UT player to win the award in the last four years. Tim Reiser (1981), Ken Epperson (1982), Terry Reynolds (2001) and Sammy Villegas (2003) were the previous recipients of the award. Toledo is the only MAC school to receive the award on five occasions in the award's 26-year history. Ball State, Bowling Green, Miami and Ohio players have each received the award on three occasions.

The Rockets (18-9, 12-6 MAC) open 2004 MAC Tournament play tonight as the No. 4 seed and will host No. 13 seed Central Michigan (6-23, 2-16 MAC) at Savage Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

2004 MAC All-Freshmen Team
Justin Ingram, G, Toledo
Yassin Idbihi, C, Buffalo
Peyton Stovall, G, Ball State
Sonny Troutman, F, Ohio
Jeremiah Wood, F, Akron

MAC Freshman of the Year - Justin Ingram, Toledo

MAC Defensive Player of the Year - John Edwards, Kent State

MAC Sixth Man Award - Reggie Berry, Western Michigan