The Aurora University men's basketball team tried to fight off a three-point shooting barrage from the visiting Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Institue of Technology on Wednesday night. AU fell to IIT 81-69 as the visitors went 13-of-24 from three-point range in the Spatran loss.


FINAL SCORE: Illinois Institute of Technology 81, Aurora University 69
LOCATION:  Lancaster Court - Thornton Gymnasium
RECORDS: Aurora University 7-11 overall and 4-7 in the NACC; Illinois Institute of Technology 4-15 overall and 3-9 in the NACC


- Joevonn McCottry netted the first five points of the Spartans who found themselves tied with the visitors through the first five minutes.
- A 9-0 scoring run gave AU a 28-17 lead with 7:23 remaining in the first half.
- The Spartan defensive press was giving the Scarlet Hawks problems, forcing nine first half turnovers. 
- Michael Osborne was everywhere defensively in the first half, collecting four steals.
- A last second three-pointer and foul from the visitors tied the score at 39 going into the halftime break.
- AU fell behind 49-41 after a 10-2 run from the visitors to start the second half.
- The Spartans fueled by a 12-2 run of their own regained the lead after a Mekhi Doby finish at the rim.
- With the game tied 57-57 with 9:20 left in the game, IIT out-scored the Spartans 24-8 over the next eight minutes.
- The visitors went 9-of-11 from the field in the stretch that the Spartans were unable to match.
- AU would fall by a final of 81-69..


Points: Joevonn McCottry (19) and Michael Osborne (12) 
Assists: Michael Osborne, Trey Jenkins and Joevonn McCottry (2)
Rebounds: Dwayne Jervier Jr (13)
Steals: Michael Osborne (4)
Blocks: Trey Jenkins (2)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, January 27 when they travel to St. Norbert College. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. in De Pere, Wisconsin.