RICHMOND, Ind. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (1-0) opened its 2021-22 season with an exciting 84-78 road win over the Earlham College Quakers (0-1) on Friday evening. Rockford led by as many as 15 points in the second half, but had to stave off a late run by the Quakers to secure the victory. Rockford's Brandon Emerick led all scorers with 22 points, including draining a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds to help seal the win. Both teams shot over 40% from the field (RU - 43.7%, EC - 46.0%), but the Regents did an excellent job on the glass, outrebounding the Quakers 41-28. Rockford was also spectacular at the free throw line, shooting 92.3% (12-of-13) from the charity stripe. 

• The opening moments of the game featured a strong defensive showing by both teams. The Regents and Quakers combined to score just eight points over the opening four minutes, as the game was tied at 4-4. 
• However, Rockford promptly went on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to take the largest lead thus far for either team. Micah Swanson and Jaden Bell each scored four points over that span. 
• Earlham would chip away at the Regent lead and eventually cut it down to just six with 9:08 left in the first half. 
• The Regents once again responded, this time with back-to-back triples from Nick Phillips and Brandon Emerick to stretch Rockford's lead to 12, at 26-14.
• With Rockford still leading 32-24, the Regents outscored the Quakers 10-4 over the final 5:08 of the half to take a 42-28 advantage into the break. Micah Swanson led the way with four points, while Brandon Emerick and Zac Centers each chipped in three. 
• The RU lead hovered around ten points over the first five minutes of the second half.
• Rockford's DJ Bonds then scored the next five points to extend the Regents' lead to a game-high 15 points with 14:23 remaining.  
• However, the Quakers were able to methodically chip away at the Regent led over the next three minutes. Earlham got the RU lead down to ten points and then scored seven straight points in less than a minute to pull back within three, at 53-50.
• The Quakers then scored five of the next seven points to tie the game at 55-55 with 9:27 remaining. 
• The two schools would trade baskets over the next several minutes, with Earlham taking its first lead of the day at 67-66 with 4:02 left in regulation. 
• With Earlham still clinging to a one-point lead with less than three minutes left, Rockford's Micah Swanson headed to the free throw line looking to put his team back in front. Swanson drained both free throws to give Rockford a 72-71 advantage. 
• With Rockford now holding a one-point lead and less than a minute remaining, Jaden Bell and Brandon Emerick combined to score the next five points for the Regents. 
• Rockford would then salt the game away with four made free throws combined from Jaden Bell and DJ Bonds to secure the 84-78 victory. 

• Brandon Emerick finished with a game-high 22 points, including 6 three-pointers. He also added 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. 
• DJ Bonds scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. He also dished out 3 assists. 
• Jaden Bell added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist. 
• Micah Swanson had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist. 

The RU men's basketball team returns to the court on Wednesday, November 10 against Beloit College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM in the Seaver Center.