Regents Up to Challenge

ROCKFORD, IL – Back in early December, the Rockford College men’s basketball team was a different club than the one we see today.  They were 3-3 and struggling to really find their identity.  On December 6, the Regents traveled to Milwaukee, WI for a cross-divisional game against MSOE.  Rockford trailed the entire game, eventually losing in overtime to drop their NAC record to 0-2.  On Saturday, the resurgent Regents avenged that early season loss in the conference’s first annual divisional challenge game.  This time, the Regents manage to extend their win streak to five with an 80-67 victory over MSOE.

Coming into the game, both teams knew there was more riding on this game than all other NAC games thus far.  This game would determine the three and four seeds in the upcoming NAC tournament, the winner garnering the higher seed.  Rockford wasted little time opening the scoring with junior Andrew Weber (Roscoe, IL/ Boylan) nailing a three.  The Regents maintained a slight advantage through most of the first half, extending their lead to 10 midway through the period.  But the Raiders wouldn’t go away, grabbing the lead with under two minutes in the half. Rockford responded with back to back threes by senior Rennell Taylor (Chicago, IL/ Hales Franciscan) and sophomore Taylor Stinson (Schiller Park, IL/ East Leyden), giving Rockford a 37-35 lead at the break.

The first 10 minutes of the second half were much like the first, both teams trying to jockey for control and Rockford maintaining a slight advantage.  Six quick points by junior Danny Armelin (Gonzales, TX/ Gonzales) with 13:00 remaining sparked a 14-5 run to extend Rockford’s lead to 14, an advantage they would not relinquish. 

Armelin led five Regents in double-figure scoring with 18 points.  Stinson (16 points), Taylor (15), Weber (12), and junior reserve Randon Williams (Chicago, IL/ Westinghouse) (14) paced the Regents. Taylor added seven assists and five steals, while Weber, Williams, and junior Leon Alford (Chicago, IL/ St. Laurence) combined for 24 rebounds.

The victory extended Rockford’s record to 16-9 (10-6 NAC).  With the third seed in the NAC tournament solidified, Rockford will host Concordia University Wisconsin on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Seaver Center.  The Regents and Falcons split their two games this season, each winning on the other’s home court.