The Aurora University men's basketball team opened the 2021-2022 season with a home non-conference contest with Lake Forest College and defeated the Foresters 80-74.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 80, Lake Forest College 74
LOCATION: Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 1-0 overall; Lake Forest College 0-1 overall
 

- The Spartans opened up with three, three-point field goals in the first 2:55 to lead 9-2. The baskets came from Terreon Hopkins, Shamar Pumphrey and Julian Gatewood.
- Lake Forest responded with a 10-2 run of their own to lead for the first time 12-11 with 12:14 to play.
- AU trailed by eight, 27-19 with 7:10 left but closed out the half on a 10-4 run to trail by two, 31-29 going to halftime.
- The two teams traded baskets and leads for almost the first 10 minutes of the second-half.
- With 10:29 to go in the game, Spartan Shamar Pumphrey drained a three to give the Spartans a 54-51 lead.
- Five minutes later, the AU lead grew to the largest of the night at 10 (69-59) on another Pumphrey three ball.
- Lake Forest would not go away though as the visitors rattled off a 9-0 run to cut the AU lead to one at 69-68 with 3:15 to play.
- AU's Terreon Hopkins ended the Forester run with a three to push the lead back to four at 72-68.
- Free throws and a few defensive stops in the final two minutes helped seal the opening night win for AU.
- AU was victorious 80-74.


Points: Shamar Pumphrey (21), Terreon Hopkins (17), Ha'ashim Keys (14) and Julian Gatewood (10)
Assists: Shamar Pumphrey (4)
Rebounds: Ha'ashim Keys (9)
Steals: Shamar Pumphrey and Julian Gatewood (4)


Next action for the Spartan football team comes on Friday, November 12 when they travel to Carroll University for a tournament. AU takes on Coe College with a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.