WHEATON, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team fell 76-69 to the University of Dubuque in the Lee Pfund Championship Game on Saturday evening. Unlike Friday night's game, Rockford trailed nearly the entire way. The Spartans held a lead for 33 minutes and 35 seconds compared to just 1 minute and 53 seconds for Rockford. However, the game was within reach for the majority of the night. Two of the biggest determining factors in the outcome came at the three-point and free throw lines. Dubuque connected on 10 three-point field goals compared to 6 for the Regents, and the Spartans shot 13 more free throws, making 7 more of them. This was Rockford's eighth straight loss to Dubuque dating back to 1992.
- Jaden Bell scored the first basket of the game to give Rockford one of its two leads of the day.
- Dubuque then scored the next seven points to jump out in front 7-2, but Rockford answered right back with five straight, beginning with a Matthew Elliott triple, to tie the score at 7-7.
- The Spartans would eventually build their lead up to as many as seven points at 19-12 with 8:28 left in the first half.
- However, once again Rockford responded with a 9-0 run over a span of a minute and 58 seconds to retake the lead. The Regents were a perfect 4-4 from the field and 1-1 at the free throw line. Tre Miller and Noody Lacey led the offensive charge with five and four points respectively.
- Unfortunately, Rockford's lead did not last long, as Dubuque outscored the Regents 21-8 over the final six minutes and took a 40-29 lead into the intermission.
- With Dubuque still leading by 11 and 16:18 remaining in the second half, Rockford put together a 14-5 run to make it just a two-point game. Matthew Elliott scored the first nine points of the run, including a triple to get things started.
- However, the Spartans hit right back with an 8-0 spurt of their own and took a 59-49 lead at the 7:15 mark.
- The Regents did cut the deficit all the way down to four with 54 seconds left, but Dubuque was able to make enough free throws over the final minute to hang on for the 76-69 win.
- Tre Miller led all scorer's with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He also added a career-high 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Miller was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
- Matthew Elliott finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal off the bench.
- Micah Swanson tallied a game-high 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 points, an assist and a steal. Swanson was also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
