The Aurora University Spartan men’s basketball team defeated the visiting Elmhurst College Blue Jays 107-95
Saturday afternoon in AU’s Thornton Gymnasium.
The Spartans got off to a quick start in the non-conference contest and would cruise to the win.
The Blue Jays opened the game with a basket by senior guard Dustin Bainter but Spartan senior forward Shane Roland knocked down a three-point basket and gave the Spartans a lead they would not relinquish.
AU built a 24 point lead with two minutes to play in the half and would head into the half-time intermission with a 23 point
lead at 58-35.
Top Spartan performers in the first half were senior guards Ari Iventosch and Dusty Magee. Iventosch had 14 points on five-of-six shooting from the field and was two-of-two from the free throw line, while Magee had 13 points on five-of-nine from the field and two-of-two from the free throw line.
It was much of the same in the second half with the Spartans never letting their foot off the gas pedal.
The Spartans were up 89-72 with seven minutes left in the game when senior forward Shane Roland dunked a ball that seemed to silence whatever
hopes Elmhurst had left and ignited the Thornton Gymnasium crowd.
From that point, the Blue jays went on a 27-10 run and with 1:45 left, Elmhurst had clawed their way back to a 10 point deficit down 101-91.
But the Spartan lead never got within single digits and AU knocked down numerous free-throws down the stretch to seal the game, 107-95.
All five Spartan starters finished in double digits with the top scorers being Iventosch and Roland. Iventosch had a game-high 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and five assists, while Roland finished with 20 points and five rebounds. Other Spartan starters in double-figures were Magee (19 points and five assists), senior forward Lance
Robinson (15 points and nine assists) and junior forward Skyler Ormsbee (12 points on five-of-five shooting from the field).
Elmhurst was led by senior guard Chris Childs (20 points on six-of-seven shooting off the bench), sophomore guard Zack Boyd (19 points and five rebounds) and freshman guard James Robertson (16 points on five-of-seven shooting off the bench).
AU out-rebounded the Blue Jays 35 to 28 and the Blue Jays were 24-of-35 from the free throw line while AU was 21-of-24.
Next action for the Spartans comes on Tuesday, December 22, when they travel to Millikin University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Decatur, Ill.