Jan. 20, 2016 - Heading into one of the most crucial stretches of the season ,the Concordia University Chicago Cougars traveled to Rockford University tonight to take on the high-powered offense of the Regents. The Cougars never led in the contest and struggled to keep up inside with the strong play of Rockford, falling by a final tally of 103-88.

Rockford jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before all the spectators could take their seats. CUC went just over four and a half minutes before Rodney Castor (Fort Myers, FL/H.S.) canned a three. Mitch Pelissier (Puyallup, WA/Mount Rainier Lutheran)kept the Cougars close with a layup, before Rockford worked their way inside to extend their lead to double digits midway through the half. The Cougars continued to fight, getting layups from Israel Dosie (Chicago, IL/Al Raby)and back-to-back threes from Justin Saar (Tracy, CA/Merrill F. West) to pull back within 24-22 with 7:26 remaining in the half. The Regents look to extend their lead further again, but a tough acrobatic layup by Adam Castro (Chicago, IL/Guerin College Prep)and free throws from Mike Walmer (Orlando, FL/Orlando Christian) kept the Cougars close with 4:41 remaining in the half. Rockford used their quickness to get CUC in foul trouble, and the Regents knocked down free throws to grow the lead to 12 before Saar hit a three at the buzzer to send the teams to the locker room with the home team leading 50-41.

Saar led the Cougars at the break with 11 (4-8) and Walmer chipped in five along with four assists and three boards. CUC shot 37 percent for the half. The difference was Rockford's ability to work inside and get to the free throw line. They scored 30 of their points in the paint and another 17 from the free throw line.

The Cougars came out battling in the second half. Saar nailed a baseline three to begin the half to narrow the gap to six. Rockford answered however, extending the lead back to double digits. Walmer pulled CUC closer with a three, then Pelissier and Walmer netted back-to-back jumpers to pull within six once again with 12:04 remaining. Still, the Regents had all the answers to the Cougars' runs. Saar tried to keep the Cougars close as he hit a three just past the midway point of the half, but it would not be enough. Rockford would cruise the rest of the way to close out the victory.

Saar finished with 20 for the Cougars, followed by Pelissier with 15 and Kyle Hoffman (Manitowoc, WI/Lincoln)with 13 (3-6 shooting from three). Castro reached his season-high of 12 points on 4-8 shooting. In total CUC shot 36 percent for the game. Rockford (10-6, 7-5 NACC) was led by Michael Murray's 28. Their strong inside play and ability to shoot 73 percent (33-45) from the free throw line would ultimately lead them to victory.

The Cougars (4-11, 4-8 NACC) will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they play in another critical matchup with the Lakeland College Muskies in Sheboygan, WI. Opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m