Spartans Honored by Northern Athletics Conference

AURORA, Ill. March 5, 2008 - The Aurora University Spartan men’s basketball team received Northern Athletics Conference honors as the NAC men’s coaches announced the 2007-2008 Northern Athletics Conference All-Conference teams and awards.

AU had four players honored as part of the All-Conference teams with senior forward Larry Welton (Chicago, IL/Thornwood H.S.) being named Northern Athletics Conference First-Team All-Conference. Welton finished as the NAC leader in scoring with a 22.4 point per game average in 16 contests, leading AU to a 16-2 record in the conference. In addition to his scoring prowess, Welton averaged 5.3 rebounds and 1.44 blocked shots per game.

Joining Welton in post-season recognition by the NAC are senior guard Doug Lambert (Warrenville, IL/Wheaton-Warrenville South H.S.), junior guard Chad Trudo (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville H.S.) and freshman forward Skyler Ormsbee (Oswego, IL/Oswego East H.S.). Lambert was named Northern Athletics Conference Second-Team All Conference, Trudo was Honorable Mention All-Conference and Ormsbee was named to the All-Rookie Team. Lambert averaged 12.8 points and shot 42.0 percent (84-200) from the field, Trudo averaged 11.6 points and shot 44.0 percent (40-91) from three-point range and Ormsbee averaged 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Spartan Head Coach James Lancaster was named Northern Athletics Conference Coach of the Year as selected by his fellow coaches for the second consecutive season. Lancaster led the Aurora University men’s basketball team this season to a 22-6 record and went 16-2 in the NAC. In his 14 seasons at the helm of the men’s program, Lancaster is 262-108 overall. The Coach of the Year Award is Lancaster’s sixth in his 14 years as men’s basketball coach, the others coming after the 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons in the former Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference as well as the 2006-2007 season in the Northern Athletics Conference. The Spartans won 20 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in AU history as well as advanced to the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time.

On the season, Welton is leading the Spartans in scoring, averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and shooting 45.6 percent (197-432) from the field. Welton continued his move up the illustrious AU men’s basketball all-time scoring list, where he is currently second with 2,312 points. The all-time leader is the legendary Mickey Johnson with 2,453 points. Lambert chipped in 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Trudo averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds.

The Spartan men finished the 2007-2008 regular season with a 22-6 record.and were 16-2 in the NAC, including winning the regular season championship for the second consecutive season. The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Division III championship and will take on Augustana College on Friday, March 7, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.

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