The Aurora University men's basketball team took on the Cardinals of North Central College for an afternoon match up on Tuesday, the Spartans second game of the 2024-2025 regular season. After falling behind double digits in the first half, AU made a bid for a comeback in the second half but eventually fell to the Cardinals 78-71.


FINAL SCORE: North Central College 78, Aurora University 71
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 0-2 overall; North Central College 1-0 overall


- North Central started the game on an 8-0 run, leaving the Spartans an early deficit after the first three minutes.
- About halfway through the first half, the Spartans cut the Cardinal lead to four after Maxwell Marius laid one in. AU trailed 19-15 with 10:05 to go.
- A Joevonn McCottry finish at the rim halted a 12-2 Cardinal scoring run. AU was behind 35-21 with less than five minutes to go in the first half.
- Noah Butler drained a three as time was expiring in the half, sending the Spartans to a 43-31 deficit going into the locker room.
- Despite out rebounding NCC in the first half 22-15, AU faced the double digit deficit going into the final 20 minutes.
- An 11-0 scoring run towards the start of the half from AU got them right back in the game at 49-45 with about 12 and a half minutes to go. 
- Gevon Grant highlighted the run with five points.
- With about 11 minutes to go, Dwayne Jervier Jr. knocked down a three to put the Spartans within one possession at 51-48.
- After falling behind by double digits again, AU continued to show fight in the second half. A couple of McCottry free throws put the Spartans back within single digits at 68-59 with 2:57 left.
- AU eventually fell by a score of 78-71.


Points: Noah Butler (18), Isaiah Davis (13) and Dwayne Jervier Jr. (10)
Assists: Mekhi Doby (4) and Joevonn McCottry (3)
Rebounds: Dwayne Jervier Jr. (9), Maxwell Marius (7) and Noah Butler (6)
Steals: Maxwell Marius (2) and Noah Butler (1)
Blocks: Joevonn McCottry and Mekhi Doby (1)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Saturday, November 16 when they travel to Milwaukee School of Engineering Opening tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.