The Aurora University men's basketball team traveled to the Illinois Institute of Technology for the 2022-2023 NACC opener. The Spartans would battle and win a close 78-76 game.
 

FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 78, Illinois Institute of Technology 76
LOCATION: Keating Sports Center - Chicago, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 5-2 overall, 1-0 in the NACC; Illinois Institute of Technology 2-5 overall, 0-1 in the NACC
 

- 2:32 into the first half, Tre Hamilton matches a three-pointer from the Scarlet Hawks and gets the Spartans started on the scoreboard. The game tied at 3-3
- The Spartans go on a 5-0 run to match the Scarlet Hawks after a three-pointer by Michael Osborne. The Spartans lead 8-7.
- After trailing 28-20, the Spartans go on a 10-0 run to take the lead 30-28 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.
- With three seconds remaining in the first half, Michael Osborne drives in for the layup to tie the game at 34-34.
- The Spartans end the first half with 11 bench points compared to Scarlet Hawk's zero and capitalizing on 11 points on turnovers.
- Spartans start the second half with a steal from Julian Gatewood and a layup, plus the foul from Michael Osborne. The Spartans lead 37-34
- Spartan Michael Osborne scores 12 of 15 Spartans points to maintain a one-point lead. The Spartans lead 50-49
- With 7:33 left in the second half, Justin Wilson knocks down a three-pointer to extend the Spartan lead to 61-57.
- The Spartans and Scarlet hawks keep the game within two points and trade leads for the last six minutes. Spartans trail by one, 70-69, with 1:45 left in the game.
- With 1:45 left, Justin Wilson knocks down a three-pointer off the inbound pass to give the Spartans a 72-70 lead.
- After a Scarlet Hawk turnover, the Spartans complete a 5-0 run after a layup from Noah Butler. The Spartans lead 74-70.
- Osborne knocked down a pair of free-throws and AU led 76-70 with 30 seconds left in the game.
- On the following possession for IIT, it appeared AU got the stop they needed on a missed three but a foul was called and AU now led 76-73 after the free-throws were made.
- The ensuing inbounds pass resulted in a jump ball with IIT having the possession arrow.
- Right off the out of bounds play,  the Scarlet Hawks make a three-pointer to tie the game 76-76.
- AU and Michael Osborne responded with two seconds left when Osborne drained the jumper and the Spartans led 78-76.
- IIT threw the ball away on the inbounds play and Justin Wilson was fouled on the AU possession with less than 1.5 seconds coming off the clock in the sequence.
- Wilson missed the first free-throw and the refs said time expired before an IIT timeout was called.
- The Spartans would win a close 78-76 game.


Points: Michael Osborne (26) and Justin Wilson (22)
Assists: Julian Gatewood (3)
Rebounds: Michael Osborne (6) and Noah Butler (5)
Steals: Noah Butler, Joevonn McCottry, Julian Gatewood, Tre Hamilton, Trey Jenkins, and Robert Roszkiewicz (1)


Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, December 3 when they travel to St. Norbert College. Opening tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. in De Pere, Wisconsin.