The Aurora University men's basketball team hosted the Raiders of Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday for Aurora University's "AU Dreams Big" Day to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Aurora University won in an exciting contest 55-52 with a three-point field goal by junior Kalmon Stokes with less than one second remaining on the game clock.
 

The Spartans took to the court against the Raiders, sporting orange AU DReaMS Big t-shirts as well as new gray uniforms unveiled on this special day. All of the day's events were spearheaded by AU men's basketball assistant coach Lance Robinson, who has first-hand experience on the severity of MS, the day's events are being held in honor of his mother Diane Robinson who battled the disease and sadly passed in August 2014.

With all the hype entering the contest, the Spartans struggled early in the first half scoring only 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the game and trailed 24-10 following a 15-2 MSOE run.

AU did chip into the Raider lead but the cold shooting effort lasted throughout the opening half as the Spartans shot an abnormal 22.6-percent (7-of-31) from the field

In the first two minutes of the second half, the Spartan defense picked up in intensity with MSOE scoring two points (two-of-four on free throws) but the Spartans could only manage a lay-up from junior Tyler Hall in the same time.

Trailing by 11 at 35-24, AU started an intense 10-0 run that was fueled by the defense and senior Kyle Pilmer had six of the 10 points. MSOE ended the almost four minute scoreless streak the Spartans threw at them with a three-point basket to expand the AU deficit to four at 38-34.

After MSOE pushed the lead back to five (40-35) the Spartans continued to push. A basket by Pilmer and three-point field goal by Nick Kladis tied the game at 40 and the Spartans were not done. AU took their first lead since early in the first half with two free throws by senior Gavin Walker.

Tied 42-42, AU senior Brandon Smith started an 8-1 AU run with a lay-up and was followed by back to back three's from Stokes and senior Sean Gant.

Leading by seven (50-43), the Spartans had to withstand another Raider run. The pesky Raiders took a 52-50 lead to cap off the 9-0 run with 3:27 to play.

But the near capacity crowd in Thornton Gymnasium kept the Spartans energized and Stokes fueled the energy when he tied the game up at 52-52 with a lay-up with 1:27 on the game clock.

The next two possessions by the Raiders on offense saw the Spartan defense buckle down and not allow MSOE's top offensive threat Austin Stueck a chance to take the lead. In fact, he did not get a shot as the Raiders forced up two desperation three's with the shot clock running down both times.

On the second miss and with 22 seconds left AU's Hall grabbed the long defensive rebound for the Spartans. Feeling the momentum the Spartans and Head Coach James Lancaster did not call a timeout as Hall brought the ball up the court with time ticking away the Spartans set-up for a last second shot. Hall drove the lane before passing out to Walker who passed to his right to a wide open Stokes in the corner. Stokes, 'cooler than the other side of the pillow,' released the shot with two seconds. The ball tickled the twine with a few tenths of a second left on the game clock to give the Spartans the victory over the Raiders, 55-52.