MILWAUKEE – Sophomore Connor Patterson had 18 points and nine rebounds and the Raider defense limited Rockford 27 points below its season average as the MSOE men's basketball team scored a 77-70 victory over the Regents Saturday afternoon at the Kern Center.

The Raiders (3-0, 1-0 NACC) opened their conference schedule by holding the previously unbeaten Regents (3-1, 1-1 NACC) well below the 97.5 points they had been averaging.

MSOE used a 16-3 run early to break open a 5-5 game and cruise through the first half, carrying a 43-31 advantage into the intermission.

The second half was played largely at the free throw line, as the teams combined for 43 free throw attempts in the half. Rockford managed to use the start and stop rhythm of the game to its advantage. After trailing by as many as 14, the Regents pulled within eight on a few occasions.

Each time RU got close, the Raiders would push their lead into the double figures. It stayed there until the final moments when a three-pointer made it a seven-point game with eight seconds to go.

The MSOE offense shot better than 50 percent for the third-straight game to start the season, finishing at 52.3 percent. On the other end, the Raiders were successful in slowing down an up-tempo Regent offense. The visitors shot 45.8 percent for the game.

Patterson did his damage in just 19 minutes due to foul trouble, while three other players reached double-figures.  Junior Nathan Verdun scored 16 points, while junior Jeremiah Erdmann and sophomore Austin Stueck scored 14 points apiece.

Tory Minnifield led Rockford with 19 points, while David Dixon added 12. Dixon and Scott Suchy came into the game combining for 47.7 points a night, but were limited to just 19.

The Raiders return to action Tuesday on the road, playing at Marian. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.