Box Score Aurora University Spartans men's basketball team took on the Muskies of Lakeland College Saturday evening in front of a large home crowd in Thornton Gymnasium. The Spartans controlled the contest early but couldn't hold on late as Lakeland was able to overcome the Aurora lead and came from behind to win 92-79.

The game opened up quick as the teams went back and forth for the first five minutes of the game. The score was tied three times within this span as both teams answered each other shot for shot.

Aurora broke the 9-9 tie with a three-pointer from senior guard Contino Hunter. AU freshman forward Kyle Pilmer followed up Hunter's three-ball with a dunk that got the AU crowd into the game.

The Muskies answered once again with a free throw and two quick baskets to knot the game up at 14 a piece.

It started to rain three's after Spartan sophomore guard Jordan Hester nailed one of his own with 12:20 on the game clock. This basket was the first of four consecutive three-balls by Aurora and each was made by a different player. These shots from beyond the arc started a 16-6 run which propelled Aurora
With just under eight minutes left in the opening half Lakeland started to climb back into the game. They shot 8-of-13 over the next six minutes to cut the Spartan lead to just one.

The Spartans were able to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the half. When the half ended, the scoreboard read 45-43 in favor of Aurora.

In the first half, both teams shot exceptionally well as Lakeland made over 52-percent (19-of-36) of their attempts and Aurora made over 43-percent (17-of-39) of theirs. The difference, however, was the three-point game of Aurora. They shot 9-of-20 from three-point-land as six different players recorded at least one three-point field goal.

The second half started with the Spartans adding five points to their lead within the first 40 seconds (50-43).

Lakeland made three consecutive layups to draw within one early on in the half. Although the Spartans were able to fight off this rush, they could not hold the lead for much longer.

Continuous pressure by the visiting Muskies allowed for them to overcome the Spartans. They tied up the game with 13:24 left and then extended their lead by going on an 8-0 run after that.

With 11:39 left the Spartans found themselves down by eight points (64-56). 36 seconds later Lakeland forward Jake Schwarz fouled Spartan forward Ryan Crow on a rebound attempt to send him to the line for a one and one. After a few words with the official, Schwarz was hit with a technical foul. The Spartans hit all four free-throws to cut the Muskies' lead in half with plenty of time left on the clock.

In the next 2:40 of play the Muskies hit back to back three-pointers to go up by 10 points (70-60) with 9:23 remaining.

The Spartans were not done yet and outscore Lakeland 11-6 in the next three and a half minutes. This run brought them back into the game and they trailed by only five points (76-71) with 5:52 left to play.

Lakeland's play proved to hold off the offensive spark of the Spartans. The Muskies outscored the Spartans 16-8 over the remainder of the game and they went on to win by a final score of 92-79.

After a tough loss, Aurora's record stands at 8-9 overall and 4-5 in the NAC. Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Wednesday,. January 25, when they travel to Rockford College. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Rockford, Ill.