The Aurora University men's basketball team lost a closely played contest at Rockford University 89-85 on Tuesday night. AU got a near triple-double from Matt Dunn and a double-double from Marcus Myers in the loss.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  Rockford University 89; Aurora University 85
LOCATION: Rockford, Illinois - Seaver Center
RECORDS: Aurora University 16-8; 14-5 NACC; Rockford University 9-15; 8-11 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
AU jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead behind a three from Max Vickers.
A pair of three's from Jordan LaGrone and one from Matt Dunn gave the Spartans an 18-12 lead midway through the opening half.
The Spartans built a seven point lead with a lay-up from Dunn at 8:38 to play.
After a Rockford run gave them the lead, AU got a three from Jordan LaGrone with 1:43 to play to tie the game at 36-36.
The teams went into halftime with AU trailing 38-36.
Rockford built on their lead and led by as many as seven until a rally from the Spartans capped off with a Jordan LaGrone three with 13:02 to go and AU led 54-53.
Down the stretch the teams traded leads with neither going up by more than four points.
With 1:02 to play, Spartan Chris Mahoney drained a three to give the Spartans an 85-84 lead. The Mahoney basket was set up by several baskets from Marcus Myers.
Rockford finished off the game on a 5-0 run, knocking down three of four free throws for the 89-85 AU loss.
On the night, AU was out shot from the free throw line by a very wide margin as the Spartans went 5-of-8 while the host Regents 20-of-32.
AU would go 14-of-33 from the three-point arc.

FOR THE SPARTANS
Matt Dunn had a game-high 28 points with nine rebounds and eight assists.
Marcus Myers had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Jordan LaGrone had 16 points off the AU bench.
Max Vickers had 12 points and six rebounds.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Matt Dunn (28), Marcus Myers and Jordan LaGrone (16) and Max Vickers (12)
Assists: Matt Dunn (8) and Marcus Myers (3)
Rebounds: Marcus Myers (14) and Matt Dunn (9)
Steals: Matt Dunn (2)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, February 18 when they host Edgewood College. Game time is set for 4:15 p.m. on Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium. During pregame, AU will recognize the graduating senior class of 2017.