ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team earned a crucial 94-84 win over the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks in a Saturday afternoon NACC showdown. Both the Regents and Scarlet Hawks shot well in the game, with Rockford edging out IIT in overall shooting percentage (53.8%-50%), but Illinois Tech holding a slight advantage in three-point shooting (40.7%-40%). The Regents had five players score in double-figures, led by 22 points by
Kevin Diemer. However, perhaps the deciding factor in the game was Rockford's ability to convert turnovers into points. The Regents forced 12 turnovers but turned them into 21 points, while IIT forced just 9 turnovers and converted them into only 12 points. Regent fans were also treated to a special moment in Saturday's game, as
Micah Swanson eclipsed the 500-rebound mark with 16:03 remaining in the game and is now the 18th member of the 500-rebound club in program history.
- This game started out close with an 8-8 tie after an IIT three-pointer with 14:53 left in the first half.
- Rockford went on a 19-9 run to take a 27-17 lead, in which the Regents shot 7-10 from the field and 2-3 from three-point range, led by Tyrese England with 6 points during this stretch.
- Illinois Tech was able to go on a run of its own with a 9-2 run to cut the Regent lead to 29-26.
- Kevin Diemer then scored the next 14 points for Rockford in a 14-5 run in which he shot 5-5 and 4-4 from beyond the arc to make it a 43-31 game.
- Rockford was able to find its way to a 50-39 lead going into the half.
- The Regents scored 11 straight points to open the second half, capped off by a Kevin Diemer layup to increase the Regent lead to 61-39
- Midway through the second half the Regents found their way to a 76-56 lead after a layup by Micah Swanson.
- IIT then went on a 13-2 run to cut the lead down to just a 9-point Rockford lead 78-69 with 6:19 remaining.
- The Regents were able to take control and maintain at least an 8-point lead for the remainder of the game and find their way to a 94-84 win.
- Kevin Diemer led the team with a 22 point performance, picking up 3 assists, 1 steal also grabbing 6 rebounds, putting him 2 away from tying Tom Clinton for the 7th most in rebounds in program history.
- Jaden Bell had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block.
- Micah Swanson had 10 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, he is 2 rebounds away from tying Troy Decook for 17th most in program history.
- Mateo Fernandez Solari had 17 points, with an impressive 7-8 (87.5%) day from the field, also picking up 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.
- Tyrese England had 13 points on a 5-7 (71.4%) day, picking up 2 rebounds and 1 block
