Scots Hold Off Regents with Three in Double Figures

By Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, ILL. The Monmouth College men's basketball team put three in double figures, made 36 free throws, and won at Rockford University 82-78 on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Scots (2-1) stay on the road for a game Tuesday before hosting Eureka next Saturday.

"A very choppy game today with a combined 82 free throws but we found a way to win a tight game on the road," said head coach Todd Skrivseth. "We had to dig in and get some key stops and also hit our free throws late to get the win. We have the opportunity now to learn from some key breakdowns in the second half."

Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) knocked down a 3-pointer for the first points of the game and Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) scored in the paint. Brown hit the next two field goals and Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored for a 13-4 lead. Cam Thomas (Arlington, Texas) hit two free throws as did Huber, and Taylor knocked down three at the line for a 20-8 lead. Maring scored the next four Monmouth points for a 14-point lead and Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) hit two 3-pointers for a 30-15 advantage. Kamran Banks (Springfield, Illinois) put the Scots up 17 but the Regents closed the half on a 19-8 run, trimming the Monmouth lead to 43-37.

Maring scored for a 45-50 lead, Taylor made a jumper and Jay Brown (Lansing, Illinois) hit two free throws. Thomas threw down a dunk and Zay Brown scored in the paint but Rockford pulled even at 54. Taylor hit a 3-pointer and after the hosts went on top, Thomas put the Scots up 61-60 with a layup. Rockford regained the lead until Thomas scored with 6:57 to play and Maring made it 71-67 with a layup. Zay Brown scored and Maring's free throws put the Scots up 75-70. Taylor kept it a 5-point game with 1;18 to play before the Regents knocked down a 3-pointer. Taylor scored again for a 79-75 lead and Maring split free throws. Rockford hit three free throws with 14 seconds left to pull within two but Taylor iced the game with two more free throws.

Brown and Maring scored 19 points each while Taylor added 16. Brown had nine rebounds and Maring had seven while Taylor dished out eight assists. Maring had three steals while three different players had one block each.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Maring made a career-high 11 free throws ... The last Monmouth player to make at least 10 in a game was Zay Brown against Knox last year when he made 10 ... Brown has been in double digits in all three games this season with at least eight rebounds in all three games ... Taylor had a career-high eight assists ... Maring made 11-of-12 at the line and Taylor was 9-for-9 ... Maring also had a career-best three steals ... The game had 82 total free throws ... Monmouth was 36-for-47 (76.6%) and Rockford was 28-35 (80%)...Six players scored at least seven points ... Monmouth beat Rockford at home last year 86-83 in overtime and haven't lost to the Regents since the 2010-11 season ... Monmouth plays at Westminster at 7 p.m. on Tuesday ... The next home game is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against Eureka.