In the first home contest of the 2017 portion of the schedule, the Aurora University men's basketball team used a well timed 25-10 run in the final 5:45 of the game to run away from the Rockford University Regents 96-80.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Aurora University 96; Rockford University 80
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois – Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 8-4; 6-2 NACC; Rockford University 4-11; 3-7 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Regents took an early lead 8-5 over the Spartans 2:30 into the game.
AU battled back and on a layup by Ty Carlson, the Spartans held a lead they would never relinquish.
The Spartans built an eight point lead behind a 9-2 run that was capped off with 3:48 left in the half as sophomore Matt Dunn hit a three.
Rockford narrowed the Spartan lead to just three before both teams went into the locker room for halftime.
AU came out in the second half strong and built the lead back to eight (47-39) with less than a minute played in the second half.
The Spartans and Regents played a back and forth contest over the first 12 minutes of the second-half.
With 7:53 to play, AU led the Regents by just one at 71-70.
Defensive intensity then fueled a 25-10 Spartan run that would give the home team a decisive victory.
Spartan Max Vickers started the run with a lay-up and would score 13 of his game high 28 in the final minutes of the game.
A key turning point down the stretch came with 3:21 left when a Rockford player was ejected for a second-technical foul after committing his fifth foul. The Spartans went five of six from the free-throw line in the sequence, giving them a comfortable lead of 11 points.

FOR THE SPARTANS
Max Vickers led the way with a game high 28 points and added nine rebounds.
Ty Carlson recorded 17 points along with nine rebounds and four steals.
Matt Dunn had 15 points and three assists.
Pat Kramp had 14 points.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Max Vickers (28), Ty Carlson (17), Matt Dunn (15) and Pat Kramp (14)
REBOUNDS: Ty Carlson, Max Vickers (9) and Marcus Myers (5)
ASSISTS: Max Vickers and Jordan LaGrone (4)
STEALS: Ty Carlson (4) and Pat Kramp (2)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Thursday, January 12 when they travel to Dominican University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in River Forest, Illinois.