MADISON, Wis. - The Rockford University men's basketball team (15-9) lost a hard-fought battle 92-86 in the first round of the NACC Tournament on Saturday afternoon to the eighth-seeded Edgewood College Eagles (11-13). The Regents were behind the majority of the game but continued to fight until the final whistle. Rockford trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, but fought back to within five in the final minute. However, the Eagles made just enough plays down the stretch to hold off the Regent charge, pick up the win and advance to face top-seeded Concordia Chicago next Tuesday. The Regents dominated almost every stat category, but there was a huge discrepancy at the free throw line. Rockford made three more shots, seven more threes, outrebounded Edgewood 51-34 and held a large 19-3 advantage in second chance points. However, Edgewood held a ridiculous 37-10 edge in free throw attempts and a 25-6 advantage in made free throws.
- The game got off to a frantic start with Edgewood jumping out to an early 13-9 lead.
- However, the Regents quickly used a 6-0 spurt to leap back in front 15-13 with 10:02 left in the first half. DJ Bonds got the run started with a layup, and TJ Lacey followed with back-to-back buckets to give Rockford the lead.
- Edgewood answered right back with six straight points of its own to retake the lead at 19-15.
- The Eagles built their lead up to nine points late in the first half, when Regent fans were once again treated to another historic moment in program history.
- With 4:12 remaining in the first half, Brandon Emerick hit the 272 three-point basket of his career and broke the school record set back in 1991 by Mike Szewcykowski.
- However, the Eagles continued to maintain control of the game until late in the half, when Charles Burnell took over in the final minute.
- Burnell scored eight straight points for the Regents, including a one-handed half court heave at the buzzer that went in and pulled Rockford to within a single-point at 42-41.
- The Eagles came flying out of the gates in the second half on a 16-8 run, where they went a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor and extended their lead to 58-49.
- Fortunately, Rockford used a 10-4 run of its own to once again trim the Eagles' advantage down to just three points at 62-59. Jaden Bell led the way with five points, while DJ Bonds chipped in three and Nick Phillips added two.
- The back and forth nature of the game continued with Edgewood scoring the next seven points and pushing its lead up to double-digits.
- Edgewood led by as many as 14 points with three minutes left before Rockford made one final push down the stretch.
- The Regents promptly scored ten of the next twelve points to make it just a six-point game with 1:22 left. Zac Centers and TJ Lacey each hit a three, while Jaden Bell and DJ Bonds each drained a jumper of their own.
- With Edgewood now leading by seven and 37 seconds left, Brandon Emerick drove to the basket and laid it in to make it an 89-84 Eagle lead.
- Unfortunately, Edgewood's Jake Schroeckenthaler capped off his 35-point night and put the game out of reach with a layup on the ensuing possession, as the Eagles went on to win by a final score of 92-86.
- TJ Lacey saved his best game for last. Lacey finished with a season-high 19 points to go along with a season-high 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
- Charles Burnell added a season-high 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
- Jaden Bell had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.
- DJ Bonds tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.
- Micah Swanson had 9 points and 7 rebounds.
