RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team notched its third straight win on Saturday with a 109-103 victory at Dominican University. The difference in the game was both the interior play of the Regents along with Rockford's ability to make its free throws. Rockford outscored Dominican 68-30 in the paint while shooting an astounding 61.5% from the floor. The Regents also connected on 83.9% (26-of-31) of its free throws compared to Dominican who only converted 67.7% (21-of-31) of its free throws.
Rockford never led in the first half as Dominican seemed to make nearly every shot it took. The Stars connected on seven 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the game to build a game-high 17-point lead. However, the Rockford duo of Zach Wallace (Rockford, Ill.) and Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill.) quickly erased the deficit as the two led the Regents on a 20-6 run to make it a 47-44 game. Murray scored the first and the last baskets of the Rockford run, and Wallace scored eight of the remaining points. The Regents would eventually fight all the way back to tie the game with just over a minute remaining in the half, but the Stars scored the final two points of the half and take a 60-58 lead into the intermission.
The Regents opened the second half connecting on each of their first three shot attempts to take their first lead of the game. Zach Wallace again led the charge as he scored all six points to put Rockford out in front 64-63. Over the next eight minutes, the Regents would outscore the Stars 24-10 to build a 15-point lead. However much like Rockford came roaring back in the first half, Dominican answered in the second half. The Stars would cut the Rockford lead down to just 3 points with 2 minutes remaining. In the closing moments however it was Michael Murray and Zach Wallace who came through in the clutch as the two scored the Regents' final seven points en route to the 109-103 win.
Junior Zach Wallace had one of the best games of his collegiate career on Saturday. Wallace led Rockford with a career-high 34 points on 14-of-15 shooting. It was the first time he has eclipsed the 30-point mark in a Regents uniform. The junior rounded out his stat line with 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist.
Senior Michael Murray recorded his fifth double-double in as many games this season. Murray had 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 10 rebounds. He also added 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
Trae Blumhorst (Mendota, Ill.), Kenny Parks (Mascoutah, Ill.) and Ross Arteaga (Mendota, Ill.) each also hit double-figures in scoring. Blumhorst led the Regent bench with 12 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Arteaga scored 10 points with 5 assists and 3 rebounds while Parks tallied 11 points.
The RU men's basketball team returns to the court on Tuesday, December 1 at home against Benedictine. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
