ROCKFORD, Ill. – After a slow start that saw them trailing by double digits early, the Beloit College Men's basketball team found their rhythm and never looked back, dismantling Rockford University 78-53 this evening at the Seaver Center. The Buccaneers (5-6, 0-2 MWC) used a clinical second-half performance to overwhelm the Regents (3-7, 1-3 NACC), outscoring them by 21 points in the final frame to secure their fifth win of the season.
The game began with RU in the driver's seat. Exploiting early shooting struggles from Beloit, the Regents jumped out to a commanding 15-4 lead with 11:50 remaining in the first half. However, the Buccaneers refused to panic.
The momentum began to shift late in the first half as Beloit's defense tightened, forcing Rockford into difficult shots. Behind the steady hand of Anthony Carter (Greenfield, Wis.) and a timely 7-0 scoring run, Beloit erased the deficit and carried a slim 30-26 lead into the locker room.
If the first half was a battle of attrition, the second half was a showcase of Beloit's offensive efficiency. The Buccaneers shot a blistering 57.1% from the field in the second period, compared to Rockford's 32.1%.
The defining moment came early in the half when Beloit ignited an 11-0 scoring run, punctuated by sharp perimeter shooting and dominant post play. This surge extended the lead to double digits and effectively broke the Regents' spirit. While Rockford struggled to find the bottom of the net—shooting an abysmal 1-for-20 (5%) from three-point range for the game—Beloit's lead continued to balloon, reaching its peak at 27 points in the final minute of play.
The engine of the offense, Carter finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He was nearly perfect from the charity stripe (6-of-8) and provided leadership during the Buccaneers' early-game comeback.
While his 11 points were vital, Semaj Roy's (Chicago, Ill.) impact was most felt on the defensive end. He finished with a team-high +24 plus/minus rating, contributing 6 rebounds and 3 steals to a defensive effort that stifled Rockford all night.
Will Schubert (Fox Lake, Ill.) provided the perimeter spark, accounting for 9 points solely from beyond the arc, helping to stretch the Rockford defense.
Zayn Young (Milwaukee, Wis.) was a spark plug off the bench, contributing 7 points and a +16 rating in just 11 minutes of action.
Beloit's depth was on full display, with the bench contributing 27 points to the winning effort. The Buccaneers also dominated the transition game, converting Rockford's 18 turnovers into 17 points and maintaining a 26-32 edge in points in the paint.
Rockford was led by Jaden Bell's 17 points, but the Regents could not overcome their shooting woes from the perimeter, missing 19 of their 20 three-point attempts.
The Buccaneers return to action on Saturday, January 3rd in Jacksonville, Illinois. Saturday's game was rescheduled from earlier this season. Tip off from Sherman Gymnasium between the Buccaneers and Blue Boys is set for 1 pm.
