Box Score The Aurora University men's basketball team opened the 2012-2013 season Thursday night in Thornton Gymnasium against Augustana College. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Augustana was able to withstand a substantial second-half comeback attempt from the Spartans. AU fell to Augustana in the end 85-82.

Augustana jumped out to a quick 9-1 lead in the first 3:50 of the game. The first half saw a very physical contest as both teams put themselves in the double bonus with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Augustana continued to build their lead throughout the first half and managed to stretch the gap to 17 points as Brandon Thompson knocked down two free throws to make the score 29-12.

The Spartans did not do themselves any favors from the charity stripe either. In the first half AU missed 11 free throws and shot just 39% from the line.

Despite their free throw shooting woes AU managed to mount a small charge. Sophomore center Kyle Pilmer made a nice move inside to lay in the final bucket of the half and cut the lead to 12.

At the half the Spartans trailed 39-27. Augustana's Danielus Jurgutis led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, while Esteban Vega led AU with eight points of his own. AU struggled shooting the ball as they shot just 35% from the floor compared to Augustana's 48%.

The second half opened up similar to the first as Augustana was able to get off to another hot start and open up their lead to 21 just four and a half minutes into the half.

Despite the large deficit the Spartans continued to fight. Spartan junior guard Marious Lobdell buried a three with 10:41 to play in the half to cut the Viking lead down to 17. Lobdell's three was followed up by a Pilmer lay up and a Jordan Hester steal in the back court that led to lay up. The flurry by the Spartans cut the lead to 13 in just a minute.

The fans in Thornton gymnasium could sense the momentum shift. With the noise level increasing the Spartans were able to finally cut the Augustana lead down to just two points following a pair of free throws made by Lobdell with 3:56 to play.

The Vikings were able to rally back and open up a 7 point lead after breaking the Spartan full court press for an easy dunk at the the other end with just 38 seconds remaining.

The Spartans were not done though. Hester was able to knock down a pull up three allowing AU to foul and stop the clock. Augustana's Hunter Hill connected on one of two free throws to make it a five point ball game. Lobdell got the ball and quickly hit a three of his own. AU once again fouled to stop the clock with 16 seconds remaining. This time the Viking's Brandon Thompson hit both free throws to make it a four point game. Lobdell came down the court again and used a screen at the top of the arc to give himself enough space to bury his second consecutive three and cut the lead to one with just 11 seconds left.

After the foul Hunter Hill hit two free throws making it a three point game. As Lobdell advanced the ball down the floor he was fouled to send him to the free throw line rather than give the Spartans an opportunity to tie the game. With four second left Lobdell made the first free throw, but intentionally missed the second to give AU a chance on the rebound. However, Lobdell did not hit the rim giving the ball back to Augustana by rule.

AU fouled Hill stopping the clock with 2.5 seconds to play. Hill knocked down just the second attempt giving AU the ball out of bounds trailing 85-82 and two seconds to play. Lobdell was able to get to half court before heaving a shot that went off the back of the rim and out.

Lobdell and Jurgutis led all scorers with 29 points a piece. Other notable players were AU's Jordan Hester with 14 points and 8 assists. As well as Augustana's Brandon Kunz who pulled down 14 rebounds to go along with his 10 points. With the loss AU is now 0-1 on the season while Augustana is 1-0. The Spartans will be in action once again as they travel to Naperville, Illinois to take on North Central College on November 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.