The Spartans will travel to the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse and play Claremont Mudd-Scripps (22-4) play on Friday, March 6. Game time will be released as soon as it is announced by the NCAA. 

AU will be making their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance since the 1997-1998 season. The appearance is also the Spartans eighth as a member of the Northern Athletics Conference. AU claimed the 2025–2026 NACC men's basketball Tournament title on Saturday evening inside Thornton Gymnasium. The third-ranked Spartans defeated Marian University 67-66 in a thrilling match-up.

The Spartans will enter the NCAA tournament with a 23-5 overall record, winning 21 of their last 23 contests. 

 AU has been led predominately by the starting five, all of which were recently named NACC All-Conference. Thus far in 2025-2026 season, Devon Richardson leads AU after being named the NACC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Conference selection, averaging 14.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.75 blocked shots per game. Juan Madrigal, a First-Team All-Conference selection, is averaging 16.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46.4-percent from the field. Second-Team All-Conference selections, Jeffery Hillmer (averaging 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds), Cullen Rauls (14.8 points and 2.19 assists) and Mekhi Doby (13.2 points and 2.8 assists).
 
In his fourth season at the helm of the Spartans, Head Coach Steve Christiansen led AU to the NACC tournament title and is just the third AU men's basketball coach to lead the Spartans to the NCAA tournament. In his four seasons, Christiansen holds a 57-47 overall record and is 39-32 in NACC regular season play.

Stayed with athletics.aurora.edu for further information on the men's basketball teams NCAA contest at  the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse.