ROCKFORD, Ill. — Illinois Tech men's basketball faced a tough contest against Rockford University, falling 80-59 at the Seaver Center on Wednesday night. The Regents 55 percent shooting from the field was too much for the Scarlet Hawks to overcome.

Illinois Tech stands at 6-18 overall and 4-13 in NACC play, while Rockford holds an 11-13 overall record and is 8-9 in conference action.

How It Unfolded

Rockford came out strong in the first half, setting the pace with efficient scoring in the paint. Cooper Jackson blocked a shot and followed up with a layup at the 19:24 mark, setting the tone early. Jaden Bell kept Rockford's momentum rolling with multiple layups, contributing to their 22 points in the paint. The Scarlet Hawks fought back with Garrison Carter, who hit a layup at 10:33 and sank two free throws at 9:45. Despite their efforts, Illinois Tech couldn't close the gap, trailing 41-30 by halftime after DeVon Oregon's last-second layup.

In the second half, Rockford maintained their lead, outscoring Illinois Tech 39-29. DeVon Oregon extended the lead with a 3-pointer at 19:09, assisted by Donovan Grunloh. Obrad Kuzmanovic countered with a layup at 18:49, assisted by John Davis III, but it wasn't enough. Despite Carter's late layup at 0:34, Rockford's Donovan Grunloh sealed the game with a layup and free throw in the closing moments, finalizing the 80-59 victory.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Garrison Carter  
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- 25 points  
- 10/12 free throws  
- 4 assists  
- 6 rebounds  

Nick Galati  
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- 13 points  
- 5/8 field goals  
- 3/6 from beyond the arc  

Nicolas Ortiz  
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- 10 points  
- 3 assists  
- 4 rebounds  

John Davis III  
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- 5 points  
- 7 rebounds  
- 1 block  

Rockford Top Performers

DeVon Oregon  
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- 19 points  
- Perfect 8/8 free throws  
- 3 assists  

Cooper Jackson  
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- 16 points  
- 11 rebounds  
- 1 block  

Jaden Bell  
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- 15 points  
- 7 rebounds  
- 3 assists  

Game Notes:
- The Scarlet Hawks are now 5-9 overall against Rockford.
- Garrison Carter led the charge with 25 points, surpassing his season average of 15.75.
- Nicolas Ortiz has consistently pulled down at least 4 rebounds in the last 7 games.

Up Next
Illinois Tech hits the road to play their season finale at Edgewood University on Saturday, February 21st, with tip-off at 3:15 p.m. in Madison, Wis.