ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team closed out 2023 with a 73-59 win over Earlham College on Wednesday afternoon. Rockford trailed for just 2 minutes and 54 seconds the entire game and led for the final 34 minutes and 9 seconds. Defensively, the Regents brought their A-Game on Wednesday on afternoon, holding the Quakers to just 36.7% shooting, including 22.7% from three-point range. Rockford also pummeled Earlham on the glass, outrebounding the Quakers 47-33.
- After Earlham scored the first four points of the game, Rockford responded with eight straight points to take the lead. Jaden Bell led the charge with a pair of threes on back to back possessions.
- The Regents seemed to seize control of the game midway through the half, thanks to a 13-2 run over a span of 5 minutes and 44 seconds. Four different players scored for the Regents, led by five points DeVon Oregon.
- Rockford would build its lead up to as many as 12 points following a Jaden Bell triple with 2 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the half.
- However, the Quakers outscored the Regents 8-4 down the stretch, to make it just a 35-27 Rockford advantage heading into halftime.
- Fortunately, the Regents were in control of the game for the entire second half. Rockford put the game away early with an 18-5 run to take a 57-36 lead at the 10:52 mark. Matthew Elliott and Kevin Diemer each had five points and Micah Swanson scored six, including an emphatic dunk, to give the Regents a 21-point advantage.
- Rockford would lead by as many as 22 points on multiple occasions, the first coming off a Jaden Bell 3-point play with 5:45 remaining in the game.
- Earlham never threatened the rest of the way, as Rockford cruised to a comfortable 73-59 win.
- Matthew Elliott scored a game and season-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He also added 3 rebounds, a block, an assist and a steal.
- Kevin Diemer added 15 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist.
- Micah Swanson finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and an assist.
- DeVon Oregon had 9 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds off the bench.
