Aurora University will represent the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference after the Spartans claimed the 2018-2019 NACC men's basketball Tournament title on Sunday afternoon on the campus of Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The third-ranked Spartans of Aurora University defeated a newcomer to the NACC in Illinois Institute of Technology 71-57 in a thrilling match-up.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE:  #3 Aurora University 71; #4 Illinois Tech 57
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Kern Center at Milwaukee School of Engineering
RECORDS: Aurora University 17-11; Illinois Tech 16-12

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The low scoring first-half found the game tied 18-18 at the media timeout with 7:37 to go.
- AU grabbed the lead coming out of the timeout with a Bailey Vance jumper.
- The Spartans continued to get to the hoop the rest of the half and just before the halftime buzzer, Terrell Wilson got a lay-up to give AU a 31-26 halftime lead.
- AU would continue to maintain the lead in the second-half and when the game was all said and done, the Spartans never trailed.
- Back to back lay-ups from Max Vickers as the game went just under 10 minutes to play forced an IIT timeout with AU leading 49-40.
- Every time IIT scored, the Spartans had an immediate answer.
- With 6:16 to go, Tyler Carlson drained a three from the top of the key and AU held their largest lead of 12 at 58-46.
- In the final four minutes, the Spartans converted 9-of-10 free throws with all but two coming from Terrell Wilson.
- A Bailey Vance three with 2:35 to go was the final knockout shot that seemed to seal the AU win.
- AU out-scored IIT 10-3 in the final three minutes of the game.
- AU would win 71-57 and claim the 2018-2019 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship and will represent the NACC in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
- Terrell Wilson had a game-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.
- Bailey Vance had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
- Tyler Carlson had 17 points on three-of-seven shooting from three-point range.
- Max Vickers had 11 points.
- The Spartan defense held IIT to 34-percent shooting for the game
- AU out-rebounded IIT 39-30.
 
SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Terrell Wilson (23), Tyler Carlson (17), Bailey Vance (15) and Max Vickers (11)
REBOUNDS: Bailey Vance (10) and Terrell Wilson (7)
ASSISTS: Bailey Vance, Terrell Wilson and Tyler Carlson (2)
STEALS: Terrell Wilson (3)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes in the 2019 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. AU will find out the opponent and location of the NCAA contest on Monday, February 25 when the NCAA selection committee announces the field of 64 at 11:30 a.m. Check athletics.aurora.edu for further information on the selection announcement.