ROCKFORD, Ill. - St. Norbert College turned in its best-ever defensive performance in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game when it claimed a tough 59-44 win over Rockford University at Seaver Center.

The Green Knights (12-3, 7-1 NACC) harried Rockford into 22 turnovers and held the Regents to just 37.5 percent (18-for-48) from the floor, 4-for-22 (18.2 percent) from distance and 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) at the free-throw line.

St. Norbert trailed just twice in the early going, both times by one point - the latter at 13-12 just seven minutes into the game. The Green Knights held a 17-16 lead with 9:39 left in the first half before going on a 12-2 run to build a 29-18 edge with 3:59 left. Kyle Krueger got the run started with a pair of free throws, followed by a Jamison Nickolai hoop. Following a Rockford basket, Connor Pytleski countered with a pair of baskets. Carter Gebler then hit a jumper and Nickolai finished at the rim to finish the spurt. Krueger's conventional three-point play just before halftime gave the Green Knights a 35-24 lead at the break.

Points proved tough to come by in the second half. Pytleski splashed a 3-pointer with 15:25 left for a 42-27 lead, with the Green Knights not getting a hoop until Evan Glaser scored with 9:43 left but St. Norbert still led 46-32. The Green Knights led 47-32 with 9:23 to go before Rockford went on an 11-2 run to get to within 49-43 with 5:44 left. A Gebler free throw with 4:49 to go put St. Norbert up seven, and neither team would score again until Nickolai scored with 1:26 left to highlight a game-finishing 10-1 run.

St. Norbert shot 43.8 percent (21-for-48) from the floor. Garrett Grzesk and Aidan Harrington each scored 10 points to lead the Green Knights, while Pytleski added nine points and Nickolai eight.

Rockford got 14 points from Jaden Bell and 13 from Kevin Diemer.