The Aurora University men's basketball team got a pair of big performances from sophomores Bailey Vance and Terrell Wilson to survive and advance in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament, defeating #2 Concordia University Wisconsin 96-84. AU advances to the NACC Tournament Championship for the second time in as many years.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #3 Aurora University 96, #2 Concordia University Wisconsin 84
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Milwaukee School of Engineering - Hotchkin Arena
RECORDS: Aurora University 16-11; Concordia University Wisconsin 18-8

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first-half saw both teams make runs as they traded the lead five times in the first eight minutes.
- With 11:54 to go, the game was tied 24-24 at the media timeout.
- AU went on a 6-0 run out of the timeout and led 30-24.
- After the CUW chipped back to within two, AU would build the lead up to seven (39-32) on a Jarek Hotwagner jumper.
- Several three's from both sides followed and with 3:49 left in the first-half, the game was tied 41-41.
- The lead was exchanged a few times before halftime.
- Going into half, AU trailed 49-48.
- AU fell behind to start the second-half as CUW continued to knock down three's. With 16:22 to go, AU trailed 63-56.
- A 9-0 AU run with all baskets from Terrell Wilson and Tyler Carlson gave the Spartans a 65-63 lead with 12:09 to play.
- After a CUW basket, the Spartans went on another run, this time 13-3 and with 7:57 to go, AU led 78-69.
- The lead got down to four but Jesse Young, Bailey Vance and Terrell Wilson continued to score the ball for AU down the stretch while the AU defense gripped down on the Falcons.
- The Spartans converted defensive stops into free throws and lay-ups.
- When the final horn sounded, AU was victorious, 96-84.

SPARTAN TOP PERFORMERS
- Bailey Vance tied for the game high of 28 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and grabbed five rebounds.
- Terrell Wilson had 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field.
- Jesse Young had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
- Tyler Carlson had 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
- AU out-rebounded the Falcons 39-33 and shot 55.0% for the game from the field.

SPARTAN GAME STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Bailey Vance (28) and Terrell Wilson (27) 
REBOUNDS: Jesse Young (12)
ASSISTS: Tyler Carlson (7)
STEALS: Jesse Young (2)

UP NEXT:
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Sunday, February 24 when they travel to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship weekend at Milwaukee School of Engineering. AU will play #1 Milwaukee School of Engineering / #4 Illinois Institute of Technology with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.