ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team faced unfortunate déjà vu when Marian came into the Seaver Center and defeated the Regents 75-71, the same score as the loss Saturday against Wisconsin Lutheran. Rockford was firmly in control for the first half of the game against the Sabres, capitalizing on 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc by the break. The RU offense was not able to replicate the same success in the second half, missing each of the eight three-point attempts and shooting 34 percent from the field as a team. Marian managed to maintain its offense through the second half, proving to be the difference as the Sabres took the lead late in the game and held on to win 75-71.
- The two sides began the game on equal terms, unable to create much separation on the scoreboard. Rockford held the lead 13-12 thanks mostly to a pair of threes from Zac Centers.
- With 15 minutes left in the first, Rockford went on a 10-1 run and built a lead thanks to baskets by Micah Swanson and Vincent Eugene, and three-pointers by Amareon Parker and Zac Centers.
- Marian was able to stop the run and slowly crawl back into the game and then into the lead 36-34 with 6 minutes left in the half. Mateo Fernandez Solari led the Rockford offense with 5 points.
- The Sabres only made one more basket in the half and Rockford scored 13 in the final 5:36 of play. Three different Regents hit a three-pointer and Zac Centers and Amareon Parker each recorded an additional basket to make the score 47-39 at halftime. Zac Centers was the highlight of the half, he had 14 points at the break, leading the Regents offense.
- Coming out of halftime, RU held Marian at a distance for the first 5 minutes of play, mainly due to Micah Swanson recording 6 points during the run.
- Marian managed to respond once again later in the half, going on a 12-point run that put the Sabres back out in front at 60-59.
- Neither side could separate once again as the two teams battled toward the end of the game. It looked like the game would come down to the last shot, until Marian struck again, scoring six unanswered points to create a 73-67 lead.
- Rockford failed on multiple shot attempts down the stretch and was unable to make any kind of run for the lead before the final horn, losing 75-71.
