The Aurora University men's basketball team used late hot shooting and 18 second-half points from senior Bailey Vance to defeat the visiting Benedictine University Eagles, 81-75 on Saturday evening in Thornton Gymnasium.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 81, Benedictine University 75
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Lancaster Court in Thornton Gymnasium.
RECORDS: Aurora University 3-2 overall and 3-2 NACC; Benedictine University 5-2 overall and 4-1 NACC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Turnovers early in the first-half found the Spartans trailing Benedictine.
- With 7:11 to play, AU trailed 32-16.
- Eight points from Rashad Johnson which included two three's and a three from Shamar Pumphrey in an 11-0 AU run pulled the Spartans back in the game at 32-27 with 5:31 to play in the opening half.
- The Spartans continued to scrap and when Brooks Schoon converted a lay-up on an assist from Ha'ashim Keys, AU tied the game 36-36 with just over a minute to play.
- AU trailed 39-36 going to halftime.
- After tying the game early in the second-half, the Spartans found themselves in a deficit again, trailing by nine (58-49) with 11:07 left.
-  With just over six minutes left, AU was down seven (65-58) but the rally was about to commence.
- Two three's and a three point play from Bailey Vance in 1:40 of game action and the game was tied 67-67.
- On the next possession, Mahlik Hall drained a three and AU led 72-70.
- A Shamar Pumphrey jumper and another Vance three capped off an AU shooting run that saw the Spartans go 7-of-8 from the field.
- Hall and Johnson each knocked down a pair of free throws in the final minute as the Spartans were victorious, 81-75.

SPARTAN STAT LEADERS
Points: Rashad Johnson (23), Mahlik Hall (21) and Bailey Vance (18)
Assists: Shamar Pumphrey (6)
Rebounds: Ha'ashim Keys (6)
Steals: Ha'ashim Keys (3)

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