FOND DU LAC, Wis. - The Rockford University men's basketball team fell 76-64 on the road Wednesday night to the defending NACC Tournament Champion Marian University Sabres. Rockford led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Marian outscored the Regents 42-21 in the second half to pick up the win in conference opener for both teams. The game really was a tale of two halves, with Rockford controlling the first and Marian dominating the second. Rockford shot 53.3% from the floor, including knocking down 6-of-12 three-point attempts over the opening 20 minutes. Conversely, Marian went just 3-of-10 from beyond the arc and shot 46.9%. Unfortunately, Marian caught fire in the second half, making 50.0% of its shot attempts, including going 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. Rockford however, shot just 25.0% from the floor and made only 1-of-17 three-point attempts.
- Rockford scored 12 straight points over a 2:57 span to take an early 16-7 lead. The Regents made four triples during the run, two from Kevin Diemer and one apiece from Vincent Eugene and Charles Burnell.
- Rockford would build its lead up to as many as 11 points off a Charles Burnell three-point play with 12:20 left in the first half.
- Marian was slowly able to chip away at the Regent lead over the next four minutes, until the Sabres were back with three at 26-23.
- With Rockford now leading 33-29, the Regents scored the next six points to push their lead back to double-digits. Vincent Eugene scored five of the six points for Rockford.
- The Sabres were able to cut a single point of the Regent lead, as Rockford took a 43-34 advantage into the half.
- Rockford's lead hovered around five points for the early portion of the second half, until Marian scored ten straight points to take a 54-49 advantage with 9:42 remaining.
- The Regents were able to trim the deficit down to only two points on a Kevin Diemer bucket with 4:43 left.
- Unfortunately, Marian scored the next eight points to make it 69-59.
- Rockford was unable to get any closer than eight the rest of the way and fell by a final score of 76-64.
- Kevin Diemer led the Regents with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist.
- Vincent Eugene finished with a season-high 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal.
- Charles Burnell poured in a career-high 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
