PLYMOUTH, Wis. - It was a tough afternoon for the Regents (5-9, 3-6 NACC), as they dropped their seventh straight game on Tuesday, 109-63 to the red hot Lakeland Muskies (10-5, 7-4 NACC). The Muskies are now 3-0 in NACC play over the last seven days, including an impressive 81-71 win over previously unbeaten Benedictine University.
It was a rough day for the Regents as the Muskies did an excellent job taking care of the basketball while also shooting lights out from the floor. Lakeland converted on 54.9% of its shot attempts including hitting 15 three-pointers on 46.9% shooting from long range. Conversely Rockford shot 36.5% from the floor and 22.2% from beyond the arc. Another key stat in the game was Lakeland's ability to convert Rockford's 24 turnovers into 27 points, while the Regents were only able convert 7 Muskie turnovers into 4 points.
Despite everything seemly going Lakeland's way, the game actually got off to a good start for the Regents. Rockford opened with a 10-4 run over the first 3 minutes and 30 seconds to take its largest lead of the day. The Regents did an excellent job sharing the basketball as four players combined to score all ten points led by three each from Tony Diemer (Rockford, Ill.) and Ben Weber (South Beloit, Ill.).
However from that moment forward, it was all Muskies. Lakeland used a 15-0 run over the next 3 minutes and 30 seconds to jump in front 19-10. The Muskies would essentially put the game away later in the half when they used a 14-0 run to take a commanding 40-20 lead. Lakeland would further extend its lead over the final five minutes of the period and head into the intermission leading 53-26. Rockford was never able to cut into the Muskie lead in the second half as Lakeland cruised to a 109-63 victory.
Trae Blumhorst (Mendota, Ill.) and Kevin Diemer (Rockford, Ill.) each hit double-figures in scoring against the Muskies. Kevin Diemer played very well off the bench recording his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Blumhorst finished with a team-high 14 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
The RU men's basketball team concludes its two-game road trip on Thursday, January 11 at Concordia University Chicago. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.
