The Aurora University men's basketball team got a huge performance from senior Max Vickers to survive and advance to round two of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament after defeating Edgewood College 73-70. The game-winning three (WATCH HERE) from Vickers highlighted a 31 point performance while he also became AU's 35th member of the men's basketball 1,000 point club.  

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #3 Aurora University 73, #6 Edgewood College 70
LOCATION: Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 15-11; Edgewood College 10-16

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU came out wearing their road gray uniforms which don the Aurora across the front in honor of the victims of the tragic events that took place last week.
- The game started with both teams trading baskets and with 15:03 remaining in the first half Tyler Carlson knocked down a three to give the Spartans an 11-9 lead.
- The two teams combined for six lead changes and AU trailed 13-12 going into the first timeout with 14:11 remaining in the first half.
- The score stayed tight as AU maintained their lead with 11:31 remaining in the first half. AU led 21-19.
- After Edgewood tied the score at 22-22, Garrett Hoffman gathered a tough rebound and drove through the lane for a layup to give the Spartans the 24-22 lead.
- AU responded to Edgewood tying the game with a four-point play from Max Vickers, made three and was fouled. The very next possession De`Ante Walker added a three of his own from deep to give AU the 33-28 lead.
- After a 5-0 run from Edgewood, AU took advantage of having the last possession of the half and let Terrell Wilson go to work for an easy layup to give AU the 35-33 lead going into halftime.
- After relinquishing the lead for the first time since early in the game Max Vickers responded with a mid range jumper in the Edgewood defender's face to regain the lead at 40-39 with 17:46 remaining in the game.
- The next few minutes saw the two teams trade leads where AU had the 48:47 advantage with 14:46 remaining in the game.
- The two teams combined for 16 lead changes as the game hit 14:01 remaining after Max Vickers gave AU the 50-49 lead with a layup.
- AU fell behind but looked to pull themselves back in after trailing 57-54 with 7:52 remaining in the game.
- After two free throws to pull within one, Max Vickers returned the next possession with a short jumper to give AU the 58-57 lead with 7:26 remaining in the game. It was this basket that put Vickers over 1,000 career points.
- With 5:36 remaining in the game Bailey Vance brought down an offensive rebound and followed up with a contested put-back to tie the game back up at 60-60. 
- The lead changes continued with Edgewood taking the lead then AU regaining the lead after a Terrell Wilson layup. AU led 64-62 with 3:43 remaining in the game.
- Now up to 22 combined lead changes AU and Edgewood were tied 68-68 with 1:01 to play.
- After a defensive stand, Max Vickers grabbed a rebound and was fouled, sending him to the foul line with 25 seconds to play. He was successful on both free throws and AU led 70-68.
- Edgewood responded with two free throws of their own and once again we were tied 70-70 with 17 seconds remaining in the game.
- Coming out of a timeout from AU, Spartan Head Coach drew up a play for Vickers.
- With 2.8 seconds remaining in the game, Vickers three ball from the top of the key hit nothing but net to give AU the 73-70 lead.
- A last possession for Edgewood had a half-court shot fall short and AU was victorious.
- AU defeated Edgewood College 73-70 

SPARTAN TOP PERFORMERS
- Max Vickers became AU's 35th member of the 1000 point club and led all scorers with 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
- Terrell Wilson had 16 points and seven rebounds.

SPARTAN GAME STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Max Vickers (31) and Terrell Wilson (16) 
REBOUNDS: Max Vickers and Terrell Wilson (7)
ASSISTS: Max Vickers (3) Bailey Vance, Tyler Carlson and Terrell Wilson (2)
STEALS: Max Vickers and Bailey Vance (2)

UP NEXT:
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, February 23 when they travel to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship weekend at Milwaukee School of Engineering. AU will play #2 Concordia University Wisconsin with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.