The Aurora University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker on Friday night to the visiting Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors 71-68. A three from the visitors with 0.4 seconds left to play snapped a tie. The Spartans were able to get off a shot just before the buzzer but the ball bounded off the back of the rim and out.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Wisconsin Lutheran College 71, Aurora University 68
LOCATION: Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 3-7 overall and 2-3 NACC; Wisconsin Lutheran College 7-3 overall and 4-1 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first-half saw the Spartans and Wisconsin Lutheran battle in a low scoring contest as neither team was able to pull away.
- AU trailed WLC 34-32 going into halftime.
- A lay-up from Jarek Hotwagner tied the game to start the second-half but WLC ran off a 12-0 run following and led the Spartans 46-34 with 15 minutes to play.
- The Spartans answered with a 13-1 run to tie the game at 47-47 with 11:57 to play. Two threes from Shamar Punphrey and a lay-up from Bailey Vance sparked the run.
- AU carried the momentum and after a three from Will Hrubes and an old fashioned three point play from Bailey Vance, AU led 61-56 with 4:20 on the game clock.
- But as the game had gon all night, WLC answered to take a 68-66 lead with 1:30 to play.
- Spartan Rashad Johnson made two free throws with 48 seconds left on the clock to tie the game.
- AU's defense forced a missed shot and with  21.4 seconds to play, the offense had what looked to be the final possession of the game.
- Coming out of a timeout, AU would turn the ball over with 4.2 seconds left in the game.
- WLC was able to advance the ball between timeouts and had 2.9 seconds and possession.
- With 0.4 seconds on the clock a three from the top of the key went through the bucket and AU trailed 71-68.
- A final shot was able to get off for AU but the Will Hrubes attempt went off the back of the rim and out.
- The Spartans dropped their final contest of 2019, 71-68.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Bailey Vance (14) and Will Hrubes (11)
Assists: Shamar Pumphrey (4)
Rebounds: Will Hrubes (8)
Steals: Bailey Vance and Justin Wierzgac (3)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, January 4, 2020 when they host Dominican University. Tip off is set for 2:00 p.m. on Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium.