The Aurora University men's basketball team took on the University of St. Francis in the Championship game of the Carthage College Classic Saturday evening in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The teams had a sluggish start in the low scoring affair with AU eventually falling 63-56.

Both teams shot under 30-percent from the field in the first half with the teams going into halftime tied 22-22. AU went 9-of-32 while St. Francis was 9-of-31 from the field in the opening half.

The second half faired a little better as the teams faced their first back to back games early in the season schedule. St. Francis scored the first basket of the second half and while AU was well within striking distance of the lead in the half, the Spartans would not hold a lead in the half.

With 3:30 to play, the Spartans cut the lead to three (47-44) on a lay-up by Kalmon Stokes. But St. Francis answered with a 9-0 run to push the lead to 12 with just under a minute to play.

AU tried to chip away at the lead in the final minute but would get no closer than the eventual final score of 63-56.

With the loss, AU is now 2-1 overall on the season. Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Tuesday, November 25 when they travel to North Central College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Naperville, Illinois.