The Aurora University men's basketball team kept their hopes of a 2019-2020 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference tournament appearance alive with an 81-77 victory over Edgewood College on Tuesday nght in Thornton Gymnasium.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 81, Edgewood College 77
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 9-15 overall and 8-11 NACC; Edgewood College 8-16 overall and 7-12 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU opened up the game taking an 8-0 lead behind six points from Justin Wierzgac.
- The Spartans would lead by 10 twice, the last time coming with 7:07 on the first-half clock following a Shamar Pumphrey jumper.
- Edgewood managed to climb back within three at 29-26.
- A 5-0 run from rashad Johnson pushed the Spartan lead back to eight with 1:30 left.
- AU would lead 34-30 as the teams headed to halftime.
- After a Bailey Vance lay-up pushed the Spartans up 36-30, Edgewood climbed back and grabbed a lead at 37-36.
- The teams then traded leads and ties until just under 12 minutes to play in the game.
- With the Spartans trailing 53-52, Rashad Johnson again went on a run.
- 11 straight points from Johnson gave AU a 63-54 lead with 9:37 left in the game.
- Edgewood though closed the AU lead to two at 63-61 just minutes later.
- The tightly played contest would have two more ties in the final minutes of play.
- A three from senior Jarek Hotwagner with 1:19 to play gave the Spartans a 73-70 lead. The final lead change of the game.
- Justin Wierzgac and Will Hrubes went 6 of 8 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory, 81-77.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Rashad Johnson (22), Bailey Vance (16), Justin Wierzgac (12) and Jarek Hotwagner (11) 
Assists: Shamar Pumphrey (5)
Rebounds: Bailey Vance (9) and Will Hrubes (8) 

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, February 22 when they host Concordia University Chicago. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium with senior day recognition taking place approximately 10 minutes before game time. Also the game will be a blackout game, all Spartan fans are asked to wear BLACK