The Aurora University men's basketball team won their first game of the 2019-2020 season as they toppled Finlandia University in overtime. The win came in the second game of the Carthage Tip-Off Classic. The victory gives head coach, Matt Airy, his first head coaching collegiate win. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 110  Finlandia University 98 (OT)
LOCATION: Kenosha, Wisconsin - Carthage College
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-2 overall; Finlandia University 0-7 overall
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans opened the game with a Will Hrubes layup in the paint, getting fouled on the play and hitting the and-one.  The Spartans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.
- AU would play solid defense throughout the first few Finlandia possessions and continued to connect on offense, ultimately building the Spartan lead to 20-4 with 12:36 to play in the first half.
- The Lions would hit a three, ending the scoring drought for Finlandia at the 11:55 mark.
- Finlandia would then find their offensive rhythm and with 8:21 to play in the half, whittled the Spartan lead to 28-23.
- A few quick buckets by the Spartans and the AU lead would extend back to 10 points, 36-26 with 6:32 left in the half.
- The Lions would match the Spartan run and with 5:20 to play in the second half, the Lions would trail by only two, 38-36.
- Will Hrubes then got the hot hand, hit two quick three point baskets and turned the momentum back to the Spartans.
- After trading a few baskets back and forth, the Spartans ended the first half on a run and widened the lead to 56-45 at halftime. 
- The second half opened with two quick Finlandia fouls, seeing the Spartans connecting on all four free throw shots, extending the AU lead to 60-47.
- As the minutes ticked away in the second half, the Spartan lead held and with 13:07 left to play in regulation, the AU lead was 73-64.
- The pendulum would swing back to the Lions  and a run of their own would again cut the Spartan lead to two, 75-73.
- With less than two minutes to go in regulation, the difference in the game would remain two points, with the Spartans up 90-92.
- A Lion foul and two made free throws by Bailey Vance extended the Spartan lead to 94-90 with 1:22 to go in the game.
- Finalndia would hit a quick jumper cutting the lead once again to two, 94-92 with 54 seconds to go.
- The Lions would then get a steal and the Spartans fouled. The Lions connected on both free throws, tying the game 94-94 with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
- Bailey Vance would draw another foul, hitting both, and pusing the Spartan lead back to 96-94 with seven seconds left in regulation.
- As the final seconds ticked off the clock, a put-back layup off a Lion offensive rebound would tie the game 96-96 and send the game into overtime. 
- The overtime period was all Spartans, as they did not miss a shot, shooting 100% from the field and from the free throw line. 
- The Spartans would go on to win 110-98 in overtime. 

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Will Hrubes (23), Bailey Vance (14) and Jarkek Hotwagner (12)
Assists: Bailey Vance, Jarek Hotwagner and Shamar Pumphrey (4)
Rebounds: Jarek Hotwagner and Garrett Hoffman (8)
Steals: Rashad Johnson (4) and Will Hrubes and Shamar Pumphrey (3)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Monday, November 25 when they travel to Holy Family College. Tip-Off is set for 7:30 pm in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.