AU Men Clinch NIIC Regular Season Title

AURORA, Ill. February 19, 2005 - The #24 ranked Spartans of Aurora University men’s basketball team defeated the #25 ranked Eagles of Benedictine University 95-85 to clinch the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference regular season title. The championship is AU’s second consecutive. With the win, AU is the No. 1 seed in the NIIC tournament, will have home court throughout, and receives the opening round bye.

In today’s game, freshman forward Larry Welton led the way with a game high 26 points on 12 of 19 shooting from the field and nine rebounds. Junior guard Courtney Carson added 19 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while senior forward Drew Gronau had 15 points on 11 of 12 shooting from the free throw line and four assists and senior guard Adam McCoy had 13 points and four rebounds. AU led 50-31 at halftime, fueled by a 31 to 6 run in the final nine minutes of the half and out rebounded BU 43 to 38.

With the win, AU improves to 21-4; 11-1 NIIC and extends their current win streak to seven games. The Spartan men are in action next on Thursday, February 24, 2005, when they host the semi-final round of the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference post-season tournament. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium where the Spartans are 52-4 since the 2000-2001 season, including an 11-0 record this season. The Spartans will take on the winner of the opening round match-up between #4 seed Rockford College and the #5 seed, which is still to be determined by tie-breakers following the conclusion of all regular season contests.

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