The Aurora University men's basketball team welcomed the New Year with a victory over the Regents of Rockford University 85-79 on Tuesday night. Spartan
Michael Osborne led all scorers on the night with 34 points.
FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 85, Rockford University 79
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the NACC; Rockford University 6-6 overall and 2-4 in the NACC

- AU jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind four points from
Noah Butler.
- After Rockford took an 8-7 lead, the teams traded baskets and leads before AU embarked on a 13-0 run.
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Michael Osborne had eight of the AU 13 points in the scoring run for a 23-11 lead with 10:56 left to play.
- Rockford would then go on a 13-0 run of their own over the next two minutes to lead AU 24-23.
- The free throw line was a huge factor in the final eight plus minutes of the first-half.
- 12 of the final 17 points of the first-half for the Spartans would come from the charity stripe.
- A three just before the half game the visitors a 42-20 lead going to halftime.
- The Spartans and Regents traded baskets, turnovers and fouls over the first seven minutes of the second.
- With 12:42 left in the second, the Spartans faced their largest deficit of six (54-48).
- A 9-0 AU run with five points including a three from
Malik Onyeali gave AU a 57-54 lead.
- The Spartans would not trail over the final 10 minutes of the game with several times the score would be tied.
- With the game tied 67-67 with 4:02 left in the game, the Spartans turned up the pressure on both ends.
- Fast-break layups from
Nolan Boffman and
Noah Butler plus six made free-throws from Osborne gave the Spartans a 10-point lead with 24 seconds to play.
- AU would be victorious 85-79.
Points: Michael Osborne (34),
Noah Butler (20) and
Justin Wilson (13)
Assists: Michael Osborne (5) and
Tre Hamilton (4)
Rebounds: Justin Wilson,
Noah Butler and
Michael Osborne (5)
Steals: Michael Osborne (2)

Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Thursday, January 5 when they host Illinois Insitute of Technology. Opening tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.