The Millikin men's basketball team finished off 2012 with a 78-75 win at Rockford College on Dec. 29 in Rockford, Ill.

          Millikin grabbed its first lead of the game with 18:15 left in the first half and stayed in front the rest of the game.  Millikin held off a late push by Rockford that saw the Regents get within one point in the final minutes of the game.

The Big Blue started off hot hitting on 69 percent of its shots in the first 10 minutes including 5-8 (62.5 percent) from three point range.  Millikin had an 11 point lead with 11:19 left in the first half.  The Big Blue lead 45-40 at the half after shooting 61 percent in the first period including 56 percent (9-16) from three point range. 

Millikin shot 51 percent from the field for the game and made 56.5 percent of its three-pointers.  Rockford shot 41.5 percent from the field.  Rockford managed to stay into the game at the free throw line where the Regents made while Millikin struggled hitting on only 5-16.  The Regents won the rebounding battle 43-32.  

Trent Windemuller led Millikin with 26 points including hitting on seven three pointers.  Elijah Kinmon scored 19 points with 17 points coming in the first half.  Kinmon had five rebounds.  Tommy Pilackas came off the Big Blue bench to score 10 points and grab a team high six rebounds.  The Big Blue's leading scorer TJ Griffin scored only eight points, but dished out 13 assists one shy of the Millikin record of 14 assists in a game.

Scott Suchy led Rockford with 20 points and seven rebounds.  Tory Minnifield had 19 points and six rebounds.

Millikin is now 4-7 and Rockford goes to 5-6.  The Big Blue will open up CCIW play on Wednesday, Jan. 2 when they host Carthage College at 7:30 p.m.  The Millikin women will open conference play that night against Carthage at 5:30 p.m.