AURORA, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (14-7, 8-6 NACC) delivered a decisive 101-64 road win over the Aurora University Spartans (4-16, 3-11 NACC) on Wednesday night to complete a sweep of the regular season series. The Regents dominated the game from start to finish. Rockford shot 52.6% from three-point range and connected on a school record 20 three-pointers, which was also just one make away from tying the NACC single-game record. The Regents shot a season-high 57.4% from the floor and held the Spartans to only 43.1% shooting, including 15.4% from beyond the arc. Rockford has now won seven of its last nine meetings against Aurora, including three straight. The Regents' 37-point win on Wednesday night was their largest margin of victory over Aurora since the two schools joined the NACC for the 2006-07 season. With the win, Rockford guarantees itself back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
- The game was close over the first four minutes with each team leading on multiple occasions.
- With Aurora holding a two-point edge and just under 16 minutes left in the first half, TJ Lacey hit his first triple of the day to give Rockford a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
- The game remained close though, as the Spartans trailed by just four points at the ten-minute mark in the first half.
- However, over the next five minutes the Regents used an 18-3 run to blow the game wide open and take a 43-24 lead. Rockford made 4-of-7 three-point attempts and five different Regents scored over that stretch. Brandon Emerick and Charles Burnell led the way with six and five points each.
- Rockford would extend its lead to as many as 23 after closing the half on a 6-0 run courtesy of four points from DJ Bonds and two from Jose Trinidad to take a 53-30 advantage into the break.
- The game was never close in the second half, as Aurora only briefly cut the Regent lead to under twenty.
- Rockford fans were able to see a little bit of history at the 12:53 mark in the second half, when senior Brandon Emerick hit his fifth three-pointer of the game and the 263rd of his career, to tie the NACC record for made three-pointers in a career (Eric Kittel - CUW).
- The Regents continued to build upon their lead, eventually surpassing the thirty-point threshold on a pair of Jaden Bell made free throws at the 8:32 mark.
- The final piece of history Regent fans were treated to tonight came with 2:55 left, when Nick Phillips splashed in his second of back-to-back triples, giving Rockford 20 made three-pointers in the game, breaking the old school record of 19, which was set in last season's home opener against MSOE.
- Rockford finished the game with made baskets from Ashton Singleton and Connor Harn en route to the 101-64 win.
- Rockford had an incredible 14 players score in the game.
- DJ Bonds led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
- Brandon Emerick tallied 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. He also had 2 assists and 2 steals. Emerick tied the NACC career record with his 263rd made three-pointer.
- Nick Phillips finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. He added 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
- Jaden Bell added 10 points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting, including going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. He rounded out his day with 8 rebounds and 1 assist.
The RU men's basketball team is back on the road on Monday, February 14 at Marian University. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.
