ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team dropped its first game of the season 78-73 on Tuesday night to the Eureka College Red Devils. The game went back and forth for much of the evening, as their were a total of eight ties and ten lead changes. Eureka led by as many as nine points in the opening moments of the game, while Rockford held a three-point advantage with just over two minutes remaining. Statistically, the game was very even across most categories, with each team holding advantages in a couple of key areas. The biggest of those came for the Red Devils in points off turnovers. Although Rockford turned the ball over just two more times than Eureka (14-12), the Red Devils held a 21-13 advantage in points off turnovers.
- The Red Devils opened the game on a 13-4 run to take a quick nine-point lead.
- After the two schools traded buckets, Rockford used a 13-2 spurt of its own to take its first lead of the game at 19-17. Anfernee James led the way for the Regents with eight points, including the final six, followed by three by Seth Childers.
- Unfortunately, the Red Devils scored the next nine points to retake the lead at 26-19.
- Rockford was able to get back within two, but Eureka ultimately took a 34-29 advantage into the break.
- The Regents came roaring out of the gates to open the second half, scoring the first seven points and retaking the lead. Three different Regents scored over that span, capped off by a Jaden Bell triple, to put Rockford back in front 36-34.
- However, once again Eureka answered right back, this time with an 11-1 run.
- With Eureka still leading by seven and 11:45 remaining, Rockford scored 13 of the next 18 points to once again jump back in front. The Regents hit a trio of threes during the run, including one by Kevin Diemer to give Rockford a 59-58 lead.
- The game then went back and forth over the next several minutes, with Rockford leading by as many three points following a Mateo Fernandez Solari layup with 2:28 left in the game.
- Unfortunately, Eureka went on to score the next ten points en route to securing a 78-73 win.
- Kevin Diemer led the Regents with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. Diemer's 18 points moved him ahead of Rod Ekberg and into 14th place on the RU scoring list with 1,179 career points.
- Anfernee James finished with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal off the bench.
- Tyrese England added 10 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal off the bench.
- Seth Childers had 8 points, 4 rebounds and a steal off the bench.
