ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (6-1, 3-1 NACC) played one of its best games in recent memory on Thursday evening knocking off preseason NACC favorite Aurora University. The Regents used their tenacious defense to hold the Spartans to just 35.4% shooting from the floor and 14.3% shooting from beyond the arc. It was Rockford's best effort of the season as it allowed a season-low in points scored in its 75-69 victory.
Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the first half. The Regents and Spartans traded jabs as the game went back-and-forth with Aurora leading for much of the half. Their largest lead of the game came with 5:26 remaining when Aurora took a 31-24 advantage. However, from that point on it was all Rockford. The Regents closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a 39-35 halftime lead. It was the duo of senior David Dixon (Bellwood, Ill./St. Joseph) and junior Marlon Sykes (Chicago, Ill./John Marshall) who spearheaded the run scoring five points each.
The majority of the second half belonged to the Regents as they extended their lead to as many as 16 points and never trailed. After the two team's traded baskets to begin the half, Rockford went on a 9-0 run to seize control of the game. Senior Scott Suchy (Genoa, Ill./Genoa-Kingston) connected on back-to-back jumpers to help put his team up 13 points. Rockford was able to maintain that lead for much of the half and even extend it to a game-high 16-point advantage when Suchy again connected on a layup with 5:49 remaining. However, the Spartans would not give up without a fight as they scored the next 14 points to cut the Regents lead to just 69-67 with only 1:28 remaining in the game. Rockford desperately needed to generate some offense after being held scoreless for over 4 minutes and they got just that from their junior point guard Marlon Sykes. Sykes scored the final 6 points of the game for the Regents including knocking down five straight free throws to seal the 75-69 win over archrival Aurora University.
The Regents had a pair of 20-point scorers for the third time this season. Senior David Dixon hit the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this year and recorded his third double-double in just seven games with 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Marlon Sykes scored a season-high 21 points for Rockford. Sykes added 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals to round out his evening.
Scott Suchy finished with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting including draining two of his three 3-point attempts. Suchy also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out an assist complete his stat line.
Senior forward Tory Minnifield (Blue Island, Ill./Eisenhower) was a key contributor in all facets of the game. Minnifield had 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 0 turnovers for Rockford.
Off the bench the Regents got good minutes from Ronald Farmer-Blanchard (Chicago, Ill./Thornton) and Phil Andrade (South Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Trail). Farmer-Blanchard scored 7 points with 6 rebounds and 1 assist. Andrade had 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.
The men's basketball team returns to action this Saturday, December 7th at home against Marian University. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
