A long drawn out second half was too much for the Spartans as the Aurora University men's basketball team fell 84-76 at home against Edgewood College on Saturday afternoon.
 

AU jumped out to 7-0 lead 3:33 into the contest but Edgewood soon caught up and took the lead 8-7 with 15:45 remaining in the first. The two teams then began to trade the lead three times during the first half.

With 10:59 left in the first-half, Edgewood took a 19-17 lead. Little would the home crowd know that was the last time AU would lead or be tied in the contest.

Following a three-point field goal by AU junior Kalmon Stokes, the Spartans trailed 23-21 and Edgewood answered with an 8-0 run to put them ahead 31-21 with four minutes to play in the first.

The Spartans trailed by as many as 11 in the half before going into halftime down eight at 38-30.

The start of the second half saw the teams trade baskets and with 15:42 to play, AU trailed 48-39. Over the next six minutes Edgewood built their lead up to the biggest of the game at 16 (66-50).

As both teams traded free-throw attempts, the Spartans found themselves down five (74-69) with 1:49 to play. But the parade to the line was too much for AU to overcome down the stretch as Edgewood held on to win 84-76.

The second-half saw 40 combined fouls and 52 free throw attempts, limiting the flow of the game. AU was led in the losing effort by junior Tyler Hall (19 points), Stokes (16 points and five rebounds), senior Kyle Pilmer (nine points and 10 rebounds) and seniors Gavin Walker and Brandon Smith each had nine points.

With the loss, AU is now 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Wednesday, December 17 when they travel to Marian University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Fond du lac, Wisconsin.