Spartan Named Men’s Basketball Player of the Week

AURORA, Ill. January 10, 2005 - The Aurora University men’s basketball team received top conference honors as freshman forward Larry Welton (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) was named the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week by the conference’s sports information directors for the second time this season.

During the first week of 2005, in which the Spartans opened NIIC action against Rockford College with a 79-71 win, Welton scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He shot 11 of 18 from the field (61.1 percent) including two of five from three-point range. In addition, Welton had one steal and one blocked shot on the night.

Welton has scored 20 or more points in seven straight games (10 times on the year), while leading AU to six consecutive wins and nine of the last 10. Welton is averaging 22.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.36 blocks per game, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field (126-218) and 40.6 percent from three-point range (13-32).

Welton and the Spartan men are in action next on Saturday, January 15, when they host the Stars of Dominican University in Thornton Gymnasium at 3:00 p.m. The Spartans are 11-3 this season, 1-0 in the NIIC, and are currently on a six-game win streak. They have won nine of their last 10 contests and, since the 2000-2001 season, AU is 46-4 in home contests.

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