ROCKFORD, Ill. - The true test of a team's character, drive, and will power is how it overcomes adversity. On the final day of 2014 and almost four weeks ago to the day, the Rockford University men's basketball team lost a 14-point halftime lead and ultimately fell to the Cougars of Concordia University Chicago. One week later, the team lost its long tenured head coach and just ten days ago the team lost its fifth straight game to fall to the bottom of the conference. At that point the season could have fallen apart, but instead the Regents came together and began to turn their season around.
A perfect 2-0 record last week, including a road win at Concordia Chicago followed by an impressive home victory against Lakeland, put Rockford just a half game back for the final conference tournament spot. However, the Regents faced their biggest test yet as they welcomed the NACC leading Aurora University Spartans to the Seaver Center on Tuesday. Rockford entered Tuesday's tilt looking to avenge a 22-point loss to the Spartans earlier in the year. The Regents knew it would be a tough task to knock off Aurora as the Spartans had won eight of their last nine games including five straight.
The game got off to a fast start as both teams found the bottom of the net early. Aurora scored the first points of the game and led 7-4 just two minutes into the game. Rockford answered with layups by Zach Wallace (Rockford, Ill.) and John O'Bryan (Richmond, Ky.) to grab its first lead of the night. From that point forward Rockford would not relinquish its lead as the Regents were in control for the remainder of the game. The Spartans did make things interesting in the second half as they were able to pull back within a couple of points on multiple occasions, but each time Aurora got within striking distance, Rockford answered back to regain the momentum.
The Regent that set the tone early in the game was Ross Arteaga (Mendota, Ill.). Arteaga hit a trio of three-pointers in a two minute span early in the first half to put Rockford up 23-10. He then drained another three-pointer with 4:51 left in the opening period extending Rockford's lead to 39-20. Moments later Zach Wallace connected on a layup putting Rockford up 21 points and giving the Regents their largest lead of the game. However, the Spartans caught fire in the closing minutes of the half as they trailed by just 13, 45-32, entering the intermission.
Aurora continued to chip away at the Rockford lead early in the second half as they opened on an 11-2 run to pull back within 4 points. Following a Rockford timeout, junior Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill.) came through with a huge three-point play to halt the Spartan run and extend Rockford's lead back to 7 points.
The two teams continued to go back and forth over much of the remainder of the game. Each time it seemed as though Aurora might retake the lead, Rockford had an answer. Down the stretch Rockford got crucial baskets from multiple players including, John O'Byran, Michael Murray, Zach Wallace and Trae Blumhorst (Mendota, Ill.). Blumhorst was especially clutch at the free throw line in the closing moments knocking down 6-of-7 attempts as the Regents held on to win their third straight game, 86-77.
Rockford needed to get a complete team-effort in order to knock of the first-place Spartans and that is exactly what happened. Ross Arteaga finished with 17 points including draining five three-pointers. Junior John O'Bryan was held to only 8 points, but 6 of those came in the second half. He also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists and played 39 minutes of tough defense. Michael Murray continues to play great off the bench scoring 14 points with 8 rebounds and 2 monster blocks.
Trae Blumhorst continued his stellar play scoring 20 points for the third time in the last four games, including each of the last two. He rounded out his evening with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Blumhorst was especially clutch at the free throw line connecting on 12-of-13 attempts. Zach Wallace recorded his fifth double-double of the season finishing with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds. He was also a force on the defensive end of the court tallying 5 blocks for the second straight contest. Freshman Nicolas Ramos (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) had perhaps the best game of his young career. Ramos dished out a game-high 7 assists while scoring 4 points and corralling 3 rebounds off the bench.
Rockford's next game is on January 29, at 7:00 p.m. on the road against Lakeland College. The Regents next home contest is not until February 7, at 4:15 p.m. against Edgewood College.
