The Aurora University men's basketball team dug themselves into a deficit that proved just a little to much to overcome as the Spartans fell to the visiting Lakeland University Muskies 90-85.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lakeland University 90, Aurora University 85
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois; Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 8-9 overall and 6-6 in the NACC; Lakeland University 7-10 overall and 5-7 in the NACC

BOX SCORE: View Here

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first-half was all about runs with Lakeland opening up the game 5-0 before the Spartans responded with 6-2 run.
- A 9-0 Spartan run fueled by Garrett Hoffman and Jesse Young gave AU their first lead of the game at 23-19.
- Lakeland regained the lead and built a 10 point lead at 46-36 with just under two minutes to play in the first-half.
- AU closed out the half on a 7-0 run to head into halftime down 46-43.
- Lakeland hit 10 three's in the first half and continued that trend to start the second-half.
- With 8:20 left in the game, AU faced their largest deficit of 17 at 78-61.
- Over the next eight minutes the Spartans began to chip away.
- With 48 seconds left, the Spartans got a three from Hoffman and trailed by just two at 87-85.
- The following possessions were the story of the night for AU as Hoffman fouled out on an inadvertent foul. On the next possession, Bailey Vance had a three to tie the game rim in and out but Jesse Young pulled down an offensive board. His outlet pass though went wild and the balled was turned back over to Lakeland.
- AU would fall to Lakeland 90-85.

SPARTAN GAME STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Garrett Hoffman (25) and Bailey Vance (16)
REBOUNDS: Tyler Carlson (8) and Jesse Young (7)
ASSISTS: Bailey Vance and Jesse Young (4) 
STEALS: Bailey Vance (3)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Wednesday, January 23 when they travel to Marian University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.