ROCKFORD, Ill.- Looking to get back on track the Rockford University men's basketball team faced off against the Dominican University Stars. Dominican is one of the teams chasing the Regents for the final spot in the conference tournament. Coming into the game Rockford held a half game lead over Wisconsin Lutheran and a game and a half lead over Dominican. Rockford beat Dominican earlier in the season 83-79.
The Regents had the offense going early in the game and it was led by their leading scorer David Dixon (Bellwood, Ill./St Joseph). Rockford started out on a 12-2 run and Dixon was responsible for seven of those points. An offensive rebound and a put back by Patrick Givens (Chicago, Ill./Thornton) put the Regents up 20-6 eight minutes into the half. A three-pointer by Mario Hicks (Orlando, Fla./Trinity Prep) and a layup by John O'Bryan (Richmond, Ky./Madison Central) resulted in a 31-12 lead for Rockford with 8:21 left in the half. Dominican would make a comeback cutting Rockford's 19 point lead at the 5:34 mark down to eight with 2:38 left in the half. The Stars would make two more baskets the rest of the way to bring the first half score to 35-32 in favor of Rockford.
The two teams traded baskets until the 16:39 mark when the Stars went ahead 42-41 for their first lead of the game. It did not last long as the Regents retook the lead on their next possession thanks to a jumper by Scott Suchy (Genoa, Ill./Genoa-Kingston). There would be eight lead changes over the next four minutes before Rockford would start to take control of the game. Dixon accounted for seven points and three-pointers were made by Suchy and O'Bryan during that span. Over the next couple of minutes O'Bryan hit two more three-pointers to put Rockford up 66-56 with just under ten minutes left in the game. Rockford maintained a double-digit lead until the 2:31. After a Stars layup the score stood at 82-73 Rockford. Despite intense defensive pressure the Regents were able to control the ball and hit their free throw shots to close out the game with a 92-83 win.
Five different Regents scored in double-digits. Dixon led them with 26 points and ten rebounds to record his ninth double-double of the season. Also in double-digits were Phil Andrade (South Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Trail) with 13, Zach Wallace (Rockford, Ill./Belvidere) with 15, and Suchy and O'Bryan both with 16.
Rockford continues its season on February 8th at 2:00 p.m. when they travel to Edgewood. The Regents final regular season home game is an important one as Wisconsin Lutheran comes into town for a 2:00 p.m. start.
