PLYMOUTH, Wis. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (7-5, 5-2 NACC) picked up its third straight win with a 87-85 road victory against the Lakeland University Muskies (6-6, 4-3 NACC). Tonight's game went back-and-forth throughout, featuring a total of 13 lead changes and nine ties. The Muskies had the edge early on, leading by a game-high 11 points with just under a minute left in the first half. However, Rockford went on a 17-0 run over the next 3:03 to take its largest lead of the game thus far. Rockford never trailed by more than two points the remainder of the way and did not trail over the final 3:53. The win gave the Regents their first road victory over the Muskies since January 21, 2010. A major contributing factor behind the win was Rockford's ability to get to and convert at the free throw line. The Regents tied their season-high with 21 made throws and shot a season-best 87.5% (21-of-24) at the charity stripe. 

• The game went back-and-forth over the opening portion of the first half, with both teams sharing the lead. The Muskies opened the half on an 11-6 run to take a five-point lead and force a Regent timeout. Following the timeout, Rockford responded with a 9-2 run of its own, to retake the lead at 15-13. Addison Bode scored four of the nine points to lead the RU attack. 
• The Regents would extend their advantage to as many as five points midway through the half, following a pair of made free throws from Randy Stegenga. 
• Unfortunately, the lead did not last long, as the momentum began to swing in Lakeland's favor. The Muskies outscored the Regents 26-10 over the next nine minutes to take a 44-33 advantage. 
• With Lakeland still holding an 11-point lead and less than a minute left in the half, Rockford scored the final eight points to enter the break trailing by just three. The Regents went a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line over the final 41 seconds, led by six points from Brandon Emerick.
• Rockford picked up in the second half right where it left off in the first, scoring the first nine points to take a 55-49 advantage. Four different Regents scored over that span, led by four points from Randy Stegenga. 
• Brandon Emerick would extend Rockford's lead to a game-high seven points with one of his four made three-pointers at the 16:23 mark.
• However, the Muskies would not go away quietly. Lakeland slowly chipped away at the lead over the six minutes, until Tylan Huff hit one of his four made triples, giving his team a 70-69 lead. 
• The game would then go back-and-forth over the next nine minutes, as neither team was able to garner much separation. With the Regents clinging to a three-point lead and less than 30 seconds remaining, Ashton Singleton made a driving layup to make it an 85-80 game. 
• The Muskies pulled back within three after a pair of made free throws with just ten seconds remaining.
• Fortunately, Ashton Singleton went a perfect 2-for-2 at the line on Rockford's next possession to seal the 87-85 win.  

• Brandon Emerick finished with a game-high 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals and 2 assists. 
• Randy Stegenga had a career-high 17 points and 3 rebounds. 
• Ashton Singleton added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. 
• Nathaniel Shead tallied 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.
• Vincent Eugene had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block off the bench. 
• The Rockford University starting lineup combined to go a perfect 16-for-16 at the free throw line.

The RU men's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday, January 11 at Aurora University. Tip-off is set for 2 PM.