AURORA, Ill. -- The Rockford University men's basketball team lost its season-opening game to Bethany Lutheran College, 79-60, at day one of the Mickey Johnson Tip-Off Classic on Friday.
Tre Miller and
Luke Stuckey both scored in double-figures for the Regents with 19 and 14 points, respectively.
Cooper Jackson was active on the glass, grabbing 13 rebounds.
RU trailed early, surrendering a 14-3 run to start the game, as the Regents struggled offensively in the first half and trailed 31-23 at halftime.
Both offenses improved in the second half, but the Vikings erupted offensively, scoring 48 points. While RU improved offensively in the last 20 minutes to score 37 points, it was not enough.
RU and BLC went on a series of runs. After the Regents pulled to within five after a layup from
Cooper Buelna, the Vikings went on a 10-2 run to take a 50-37 lead. The Regents responded with a run of their own, with a 10-0 run to pull to within three with a three-point basket from Stuckey. Unfortunately for RU, BLC had one last spurt in the final nine minutes of the game.
On the evening, the Regents shot 29.4% from the floor and 33.33% from behind the arc.
The Regents will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 8, for day two of the Mickey Johnson Tip-Off Classic.
