ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team captured its first conference win of the season in with a 69-65 win against Edgewood College. The Regents began the game extremely well, playing tough defense and going up by seven in the opening moments. Edgewood managed to keep the game close and held the lead at halftime thanks to a dominant performance in the rebound category (46-33). When the game was on the line, Rockford pulled away thanks in part to 18 fast break points. A trio of Regents ended with double-digit points (
Micah Swanson,
Vincent Eugene, and
Charles Burnell), while
Micah Swanson also dominated on defense, finishing with six blocks in the game, two shy of the school record.
- Rockford controlled the first 3:20 of the game, pulling ahead into an 11-4 lead. Micah Swanson led the scoring with six during the run.
- The Regents went up to their largest lead of the game at 17-10, and the Eagles responded with an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the evening with the score at 18-17.
- The two sides traded baskets until there was less than two minutes left in the half. Edgewood College took control of the final two minutes, going on a 7-3 run to extend the lead before halftime. Noody Lacey got the only points for Rockford in that span, converting an and-one opportunity. The Regents trailed heading into the second half, 37-32
- Rockford clawed back into the game and took back the lead over the first five minutes of the second half. Micah Swanson and Vincent Eugene each recorded five points to help lead the charge.
- Edgewood hit a layup shortly after to take the lead back at 45-44, but this was the final time Edgewood would lead in the game.
- The Eagles spent the rest of the game only able to tie the Regents, doing so five more times before the final horn.
- Charles Burnell took over the remaining 14 minutes. He started by hitting a three-point basket to take a two-point lead, and then scored another 6 points all within the final 3:12 of play, including a clutch rebound with 12 seconds remaining and hitting the free throw that put them up by four to seal the deal.
- With the game in hand, the Regents denied the Eagles last attempt at scoring and Rockford was able to capture its first conference win of the season.
- Micah Swanson led the team in points (15) and blocks (6) and rebounds (6). He also added a steal and an assist.
- Vincent Eugene had 13 points with a team-high of 4 steals. He also recorded 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
- Charles Burnell finished with 14 points, 2 steals, and a rebound. He led the team in three-pointers, shooting 60 percent by making 3 of 5.
- Mateo Fernandez Solari led the squad in assists with 4. He also finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.
