The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team posted its highest offensive output Thursday night in a 97-85 victory over Rockford (Ill.) in a non-conference affair at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (5-0 overall) shot 51.3 percent from the floor in the second half and hit 11 3-pointers in the contest to help fight off a rally by the Regents late in the game.
 
Junior guard Chris Jones (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) scored 16 of his team-high 23 points in the first half and added four assists and two steals. Freshman guard Zach Knobloch (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) collected 12 of his 17 points in the second half and connected on five 3-pointers.
 
Junior forward Scotty Tyler (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) posted his first double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks, and junior forward Demetrius Woodley (Milwaukee, Wis./Vincent) registered 11 points, all in the second half, to go along with eight rebounds.
 
UW-Whitewater outscored Rockford (1-7) by a 42-28 margin on points in the paint and forced 12 turnovers while committing a season-low six of its own.
 
The Regents led by as many as seven in the first half, taking a 21-14 lead with 10:40 remaining in the period.
 
The Warhawks ran off eight straight points, including two 3-pointers by Tyler, to take a 22-21 advantage with 9:28 to go in the half.
 
UW-Whitewater took the lead for good at the 8:08 mark on a jumper by sophomore guard Andre Brown (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) and pushed the margin up to 12 with 3:49 left on a 3-pointer by Jones.
 
After taking an eight-point lead into halftime, the Warhawks enjoyed a strong start to the second half, leading by double digits and taking a 15-point lead midway through the frame.
 
Rockford whittled its deficit all the way down to five by the 5:58 mark, but UW-Whitewater responded with a jumper by Woodley and a jumper by Jones and had a 15-point lead again with 2:25 remaining.
 
The Warhawks host Kalamazoo (Mich.) this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game is the second half of a women's-men's doubleheader at Kachel Gymnasium.