Box Score A tough Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match-up at Lakeland College was on tap for the Aurora University Spartan men's basketball team with AU winning the key contest 79-76 behind a 27-point and 11 rebound effort from senior Kyle Pilmer.

The Spartans led comfortably for the final 16:30 of the first-half and had several 11-point leads, the largest of the half. Midway through the half, AU used a 16-6 run to build their lead.

AU shot 44 percent in the first half, led by Pilmer's seven-of-nine for 17 points while the Spartan defense limited the Lakeland offense to 31.6 percent from the field. AU led 37-32 at the halftime intermission.

Lakeland cut the lead to two after making a three to open the second half. Leading by three (42-39) with 17:30 on the second half clock, AU embarked on a 9-0 run to take a 12-point lead at 51-39 with 15:51 to play.

The Spartans maintained a lead in single-digits for the next 12 minutes but with 3:05 to play, Lakeland tied the game for the first time since early in the game at 72-72.

AU senior Brandon Smith gave AU a lead for good with 1:53 to play when he drained a three-pointer, his second of the game.

The teams would only see one more basket made (Pilmer) and Lakeland's standout guard Burris went two of four down the stretch from the free-throw line to seal the AU win.

In addition to the Pilmer double-double, junior Tyler Hall finished with 15 points and eight assists.With the win, AU is now 13-4 overall and 11-2 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 when they host Dominican University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.