ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (5-1) topped the Finlandia University Lions (1-8) in a heated offensive battle that resulted in a 99-92 win for the Regents. Rockford jumped out to a very large lead early in the first part of the opening half, going up 26-14. Zac Centers came in off the bench and carried the Rockford offense early with 12 of those 26 points off three-pointers. Rockford went into the half with a ten-point lead at 56-46, but came out cold for the second half, giving up an 8-0 run to Finlandia. The Lions brought the game within two points but never took a lead the rest of the game, with Rockford sealing the deal late and earning the team's fifth win of the season, 99-92.

• Rockford and Finlandia traded baskets back and forth for the first five minutes of competition, bringing the score to 12-9 Regents.
• Zac Centers stepped up big in the next three minutes, draining three three-pointers over that time span, helping Rockford to a 23-14 lead.
• With a little over ten minutes left in the first half, Finlandia's offense took advantage and scored 18 compared to Rockford's 13 over the five-minute run and put the score at 39-32, Rockford still in the lead.
• It was a very balanced last five minutes, Brandon Emerick contributing six points including a last second layup to end the first half. Rockford went into the break ahead by ten with the score at 56-46. Zac Centers led the way in scoring, hitting five three-pointers off the bench for a total of 15 points going into the break.
• Finlandia came out of the break on fire, scoring eight straight points and eventually pulling the lead down to two points at 59-57.
• Rockford warmed up later and put together a 15-5 run, all 15 points coming from the bench. Nick Phillips had six, Charles Burnell had five, and Sincere Galbreath had four.
• Finlandia pulled within six points again, but Rockford was able to keep pace with the Lions, eventually battling with a consistent ten-point lead.
• With less than three minutes to play, Finlandia went on a six-point run to bring the score to 95-92 with over a minute left to play. The Lions failed to score for the rest of the game, and Rockford secured the win thanks to DJ Bonds who made a layup and eventually the final two points off of free throws to bring the final score to 99-92.

• Zac Centers came off the bench and led the team in points with 18, all of them from 6 made three-pointers. He also recorded 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists in 20 minutes of play.
• Micah Swanson led in rebounds with 7, he also recorded 7 points and a block.
• TJ Lacey led the starters in points with 17, he also finished second highest in rebounds with 6. Lacey also had one steal and one assist.
• Brandon Emerick led in assists with 5, also putting up 12 points and a pair of steals.
• DJ Bonds finished with a statistic in every category, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and one block to round out his day.

The RU men's basketball team will be home at the Seaver Center once again next week Wednesday as the Regents get set to open conference play against Marian University at 7pm.