RICHMOND -- The Earlham College men's basketball team began its 2021-22 season with a loss to Rockford University 84-78 in Druley Performance Gym. 

Anthony Phillips and Kolden Vanlandingham both tallied 18 points for the Quakers. Jaden Terry followed with 15 and Jordan Goodson scored 14. Phillips shot an impressive 4-for-7 from 3-point range and helped carry the second half charge. 

Goodson shone under the hoop with seven defensive rebounds on the evening. 

The Quakers got behind early in the contest and shot just 33% from the field in the first half. Rockford had garnered a lead of 12-4 after eight minutes of play. 

A 5-0 run by Earlham brought the gap under 10 points with 10 minutes remaining in the half, but Rockford out-scored the Quakers 22-14 in the final nine minutes, and carried a 42-28 lead into the locker rooms. 

Earlham began the second half with an 8-2 run, but the main grunt work was done in a four-minute stretch in the middle of the half. A 19-4 run brought the Quakers right back into contention with a pair of 3-pointers from Phillips and five points from Vanlandingham aiding the charge. The Quakers had tied the game at 55 with 9:27 remaining on the clock. 

Rockford tried to eek out a lead again but everytime they found momentum, the Quakers would string a run together to come back into it. Earlham led for brief periods in the middle periods of the half, and heading into the final minute Rockford led 75-74. 

Earlham missed a 3-pointer which was returned down the court for a Regent layup. Then a Rockford 3-pointer made it a six-point game with 28 seconds remaining. Earlham managed a 2-point jumper on its next possession and then fouled to stop the clock.

The Regents made both of their ensuing free throws and the Quakers missed a 3-point attempt. Rockford made its final two free throws of the contest to take the 84-78 win. 

Earlham will be back in action next Friday as the Quakers travel to DePauw University for a 7 p.m. matchup in Greencastle.