ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University men's basketball team secured the final spot in the NACC tournament with a massive 76-65 win over the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks in the final game of the regular season. Both schools shot the ball particularly well from the floor with Illinois Tech shooting 57.1% and Rockford 53.3%, but the Regents made five more three-pointers than the Scarlet Hawks on a red-hot 50% shooting from beyond the arc. Rockford also dominated the glass, outrebounding Illinois Tech 35-16, including 15-3 offensively, which created an insane 24-6 advantage in second chance points for the Regents. This ultimately allowed Rockford to stay in control for most of the game en route to the 11-point victory. The Regents earned the eighth seed in the NACC tournament and will head to Milwaukee for a 7 PM showdown on Wednesday night against the 16th-ranked and top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors.
- The Regents roared out to a 13-4 lead over the first three minutes of the contest, capped off by a Noody Lacey layup. Rockford shot a perfect 5-5 (100%) to begin the game and were led by Jaden Bell with 6 points.
- The Scarlet Hawks battled back with 12 straight points to take a 16-13 lead.
- Rockford quickly regained the lead with a 7-2 spurt to grab a slight 21-18 advantage.
- Illinois Tech and Rockford continued to battle to a 25-25 score, but the Regents were able to take control with an 11-0 run that gave RU a 36-25 lead late in the first half. Rockford was 5-8 (62.5%) from the floor during the run and was led by Cooper Jackson with 4 points.
- The Regents and Scarlet Hawks traded points to end the first half, but Rockford was able to maintain its double-digit lead thanks to an Anthony Espensen triple with time winding to give RU a 39-28 lead heading into the break.
- Rockford quickly increased its lead to 17 with a 10-4 run over the first two and a half minutes of the second half, capped off by a Donovan Grunloh three-pointer.
- The Regents eventually took a 22-point lead after Noody Lacey drained a triple to make it 56-34.
- Illinois Tech was able to slowly chip away at the Rockford lead and cut it all the way down to a 58-48 Regent lead with 10 minutes and 17 seconds left in regulation.
- However, the Regents remained in control and took a 17-point, 69-52 lead after a layup from Seth Childers with 6 minutes left in regulation.
- Rockford was able to maintain its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, eventually winning by a final score of 76-65.
- Jaden Bell provided a game-high 19 points on 8-14 (57.14%) shooting from the floor and 3-7 (42.8%) from beyond the arc. He also picked up 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
- Noody Lacey delivered 13 points on 5-8 (62.5%) shooting, picking up 7 rebounds and 2 assists as well.
- Micah Swanson had 8 points, 7 rebounds, a season-high 6 assists and 1 steal.
- Anthony Espensen added 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist.
