MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Rockford University men's basketball team entered Saturday's game knowing it need to win its remaining two games and have its opponent, Wisconsin Lutheran College, lose its final two games in order to secure the eighth and final spot in the NACC Tournament. Not only were the Regents looking to keep their postseason hopes alive on Saturday, but they were also hoping to avenge a 91-74 loss to the Warriors back in December.
The game was close throughout as there were 8 ties and 7 lead changes with both teams seemingly gaining control at various points during the afternoon. The opening minutes belonged to the Regents as juniors Michael Murray (Princeton, Ill.) and John O'Bryan (Richmond, Ky.) knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to put Rockford up 11-6 just under five minutes into the game. However, Rockford went cold from the floor over the ensuing four minutes as the Warriors caught fire scoring the next 12 points to take an 18-11 lead. Following a timeout, the Regents promptly answered right back with a 8-0 run of their own. This time it was Michael Murray and Jeff McChristy (Stonington, Ill.) who connected on back-to-back three-pointers allowing the Regents to regain the lead. The game went back-and-forth over the next few minutes until the Warriors seemed to gain control in the final minutes of the half entering the intermission with a 43-34 advantage.
The second half followed a similar pattern as both teams took turns grabbing the lead. Despite the sluggish ending to the first half, Rockford roared out of the gates in the second with a 17-3 run to grab a 51-46 lead at the 15:12 mark. During the run the Regents connected on 6-of-7 shot attempts including going a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Michael Murray once again led the way with 7 points while John O'Bryan was not far behind with five. Rockford continued to hold onto the lead for much of the half as the Regents clung to a 1-point advantage with just 2 minutes and 44 seconds remaining. However on its very next possession, Wisconsin Lutheran drained a clutch three with under 2 minutes remaining to take a 2-point lead. After a Zach Wallace (Rockford, Ill.) free throw cut it to a one-point game, Rockford would have one final chance in the closing seconds to keep its playoff hopes. However, it was not meant to be as the Regents' final shot attempt of the game was blocked and Rockford fell 73-72.
Michael Murray had by far his most impressive performance of the season on Saturday. Murray poured in a game-high 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting. The junior also tallied 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Zach Wallace also had a nice game scoring 14 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and blocking a pair of shots. Wallace has now scored in double-digits in 13 of his last 14 games including 8 straight.
John O'Bryan and Trae Blumhorst (Mendota, Ill.) combined to score 17 of Rockford's 25 bench points. O'Bryan scored 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting while Blumhorst added 7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
The men's basketball team will conclude its season on Wednesday, February 18 at home against Benedictine University. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. in the Seaver Center.
