Basketball Opens Strong with Win at Millikin
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Posted by: Regents Sports Information
DECATUR, Ill. – The Rockford College men’s basketball team opened up its 2011-2012 season with a decisive 71-52 win at Millikin University. Millikin opened the game on a 9-0 run in the first 3 minutes of the game. The Regents then went on a 13-3 run of their own over the next 4 minutes to take the lead. After trading baskets for the next few minutes, Rockford began building on its lead and entered halftime leading by 5 points. The Regents took control of the game about midway through the second half building its lead to double-digits. From that point on the Regents never led by less than 10 points in the game. They lead by as many as 20 points with just over 2 minutes remaining and cruised to a 19-point victory. The 52 Millikin points are the least amount of points allowed by the Regents in a game since December 31, 2006 when Rockford defeated Westminister College (Utah) 52-51.
The Regents showed improved toughness underneath the basket and an ability to create turnovers in Tuesday's game. Rockford out-rebounded Millikin by 15 which led to a 7-point advantage for the Regents on second chance points. The Regents also got fouled and converted their free throws, going 20-25 at the line. In addition, the team scored 26 points off of 20 Millikin turnovers helping lead Rockford College to a 1-0 start to the season.
It truly was a team effort in Rockford’s opening win of the season. The Regents had 5 players score at least 9 points in the game. Sophomore Tory Minnifield (Blue Island, Ill./Eisenhower) recorded game highs in both points and rebounds: scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Minnifield also got to the free throw line 11 times and converted 8 into points. Junior transfer Grant Olsen (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) went 3-6 from the floor and chipped in 9 points and 7 rebounds. Thomas Hawkins (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) went 5-9 from the floor scoring 10 points and dishing out 4 assists off the bench for the Regents. Junior transfer Keith Conway (Chicago, Ill./Hubbard) also scored 10 points off the bench including going a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line. Senior Darryl Watkins (Rockford, Ill./Auburn) scored 9 points of the bench while going 4-6 from the floor including 1-1 from behind the arc. The Regents bench did an outstanding job outscoring Millikin’s bench 35-8 for the game.
The men’s basketball team will be back in action on Saturday, November 19th , for its home opener against Eureka College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Seaver Center.
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