ROCKFORD, Ill.- It has been a bit of a roller coast ride so far this season for the Rockford University men's basketball team, with more valleys than peaks. But two wins this week, one on Wednesday night at Concordia Chicago and one today against the visiting Lakeland College Muskies, has the Regents in great position to make a late season run for the conference playoffs.
It was a close and hard fought game between the Regents and the Muskies. The teams would combine for 43 fouls and 60 free throw shots for the game. The gritty, physical game suited Rockford. A layup by Trae Blumhorst (Mendota, Ill.) 3:11 into the game put Rockford up 9-7. Lakeland would not regain the lead the rest of the way as the Regents led for the final 36 minutes and 49 seconds. Rockford held a 37-31 lead at halftime and prevented Lakeland from mounting a rally in the second half to win 79-73.
Blumhorst continues to terrorize NACC teams of late. After going cold for much of the month of December and early January, Blumhorst has stepped up his game when the team needed him to. His 26 points in today's game were a season high and his four straight game scoring in double-digit points. He was extremely efficient, making 9-of-12 shots and 8-of-9 free throws. In addition, he grabbed six rebounds, had five assists, and three steals. After a Muskie drew a technical foul, Blumhorst knocked down four straight free throws with ten seconds left in the game to end any chance for a Lakeland comeback.
Helping out Blumhorst were John O'Bryan (Richmond, Ky.) with 19 points and Zach Wallace (Rockford, Ill.) with 11 points. Wallace recovered seven rebounds and had a couple of huge blocks among his five for the game. Despite joining the team mid-season, Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill.) has been a big contributor off the bench. In just his second game as a Regent, the 6-3 junior guard recorded a double-double with ten points and a game high 13 rebounds.
With seven games left in the season, Rockford finds itself just a half game out of the conference tournament. The road may be tough with games remaining against the conference's top two teams, but Rockford is still in a position to determine its own fate. The Regents season continues on January 27 at 7:00 p.m. when the top team in the NACC, the Aurora Spartans, visits Rockford.
