The Aurora University men's basketball team returned to the court between Christmas and New Years on Tuesday afternoon at Monmouth College. AU defeated the hosts 78-74 with a late rally being the deciding factor.


FINAL SCORE: Aurora University 78, Monmouth College 74
LOCATION: Monmouth, Illinois
RECORDS: Aurora University 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the NACC; Monmouth College 8-4 overall 


- The contest was close early with AU securing their first lead at 12-10 following a three from Isaiah Thompson.
- AU would later find themselves in a nine-point deficit (28-19).
- Mekhi Doby (six points), Zerrick Johnson (five points) and Isaiah Thompson (a three) combined for a 14-0 run over three minutes.
- When the Thompson three went through the net, AU led 33-28.
- AU would head to halftime up three at 35-32.
- The late first-half lead would disappear quickly to start the second-half as AU trailed for a large portion of the final 20.
- With 7:44 left in the game, the Spartans trailed by seven (66-59).
- Slowly chipping away at the lead but it wasn't until a pair of made free throws from Doby with 1:29 remaining that AU took the final lead change of the game.
- AU built a lead to seven (78-71) before a three from Monmouth in the final seconds pulled the final score closer.
- The Spartans head into 2026 with a 78-74 victory.

 
Points: Mekhi Doby (26), Cullen Rauls (11), Juan Madrigal and Jeffery Hillmer (10)
Assists: Jeffery Hillmer (3)
Rebounds: Devon Richardson (10) and Larry Carthan (6)
Steals: Mekhi Doby (2)
Blocks: Devon Richardson, Mekhi Doby, Isaiah Thompson and Jeffery Hillmer (1)


Next action for the Spartan men's basketball team comes on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 when they travel to Illinois Institute of Technology. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. In Chicago, Illinois.