Aurora University Spartan Men's Basketball NCAA Bound and Host Opening Rounds

AURORA, Ill. February 26, 2007 - The Aurora University Spartan Men's Basketball team, currently ranked 15th in the latest D3hoops.com poll with a 25-2 overall record received word Sunday night from the 2006-2007 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball selection committee that they have been selected as one of four Pool B teams for the upcoming national tournament.

On Monday morning, the NCAA announced the bracket for the field of 59. The Spartans will host the first and second round contests on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3, 2007. AU will open up against Calvin College (18-9) from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) at 8:00 p.m. on Friday evening and University of Chicago (20-5) from the University Athletics Association (UAA) taking on Hope College (23-4) also from the MIAA at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night. The winner's of game one and game two will take on each other at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night in Thornton Gymnasium..

AU's last appearance came following the 2004-2005 season, when the Spartans received a first-round bye and host Calvin College in the second round in Thornton Gymnasium. Calvin defeated the Spartans 71-59, handing AU one of their seven home losses since the 2000-2001 season. AU is 14-0 at home this season and 77-7 in Thornton Gymnasium since the 2000-2001 season.

The bid is the Spartans fifth selection to the NCAA Championships and second in three years and the first for a Northern Athletics Conference institution. AU defeated Edgewood College 85-69 in the NAC tournament championship game to capture the 2006-2007 NAC tournament title along with the NAC regular season championship.

In his 13th season as head coach, James Lancaster’s men’s team finished the regular season with a school record 25 wins (25-2) and 16-2 in the Northern Athletics Conference. In his 13 seasons at the helm of the men's program, Lancaster has a school record 240 wins (240-101/.684). This will be Coach Lancaster’s sixth appearance in the NCAA tournament, five times as head coach of the men’s basketball team and once as head coach of the Aurora women’s basketball team.

The Spartans are led by junior forward Larry Welton (20.1 points and 6.6 rebounds), senior guard Darrick Leonard (15.5 points and 5.7 assists), junior forward Mike Leonard (11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds) and sophomore guard Dusty Magee (10.6 points on 47.1% shooting from three-point range)..