PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Rockford University dealt the Lakeland University men's basketball team an early blow with a hot start and the Muskies never found their footing in an 86-65 loss Wednesday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Regents made eight of their first 10 shots from the field and never totally cooled off, shooting 55.4% for the game in earning a split of the season series with Lakeland. Rockford also gained some separation from the Muskies in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings, improving to 6-6 in conference (12-7 overall) while Lakeland dropped to 3-8 in the NACC (5-13 overall).
The Regents went on a 16-2 run within the game's first seven minutes, making six straight field goals including Micah Swanson's three-point play for a 20-7 lead with 13 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first half. Rockford would hold a double-digit lead the rest of the game, keeping the pressure on in the first half by shooting 56.3% (18 of 32) over the first 20 minutes in taking a 45-28 lead into halftime.
While Rockford was enjoying its best shooting night of the season, Lakeland was struggling to its worst. The Muskies made just 32.1% of their shots in the first half (9 of 28) and finished with a season-low 36.8% mark from the field (21 of 57).
Lakeland briefly cut the Regents' lead to 15 points twice in the early stages of the second half, but the guests soon after blew the game wide open. A 13-0 run pushed Rockford's lead to 60-32 with just under 13 minutes left in the game, and the Muskies never got closer than 20 points again.
Asanjai Hunter (
So.-Racine, Wis.) scored 12 points to lead Lakeland, making 8 of 8 from the free throw line.
Brayden Kennedy (
Fr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) scored 11 points and
Isaiah Hammond (
Jr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Cam Jaeger (
Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.) also added seven points including a three-pointer that moved him into sole possession of fifth on the Muskies' all-time career list for made three-pointers with 176, one more than Josh Regal (2008-12).
Micah Swanson led Rockford with 21 points, making 10 of 14 shots and keying the Regents' 52-28 advantage in points in the paint. Matthew Elliott also added season highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds as Rockford finished with a 39-33 rebounding advantage. The Regents gained the split of the season series after Lakeland defeated Rockford 101-94 on the road back on Nov. 29.
Lakeland goes on the road Saturday to face Benedictine University with game time set for 4:15 p.m. in Lisle, Ill.
