Spartans Out Shoot Warriors

AURORA, Ill. December 2, 2008 - The Aurora University Spartan men's basketball team opened the 2008-2009 Northern Athletics Conference basketball schedule with a 106-91 victory over the Wisconsin Lutheran Lutheran College Warriors on Tuesday evening in AU's Thornton Gymnasium.

The Spartans started off the contest strong as they built a commanding 14-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish, behind the hot shooting of junior forward Shane Roland and senior guard Chad Trudo. Trudo and Roland combined for over half of the Spartans first half points, while, as a team, AU shot 50% from the field (18-of-36) in the opening half of basketball.

The Warriors, however, gradually narrowed the gap behind strong play from junior guard Jeremy Burmeister (eight points) and senior guard Danny Behm (nine points). Though the Warriors would never get any closer than a five point deficit.

Heading into halftime, the Spartans led 50-39.

In the second half, the Spartans continued their hot shooting, as Trudo paced the Spartans, scoring 17 of his career high 32 points in the second half on 9-of-15 from the field. On the evening, AU was 39-of-70 (55.7 percent) from the field, including 9-of-25 from behind the arc.

Other top Spartan performers included sophomore center Skyler Ormsbee, double-double with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 14 rebounds, Roland (15 points, nine rebounds, five steals and three assists), junior guard Dusty Magee (15 points and three assists) and junior forward Lance Robinson (eight points, 11 assists, six rebounds and two steals). All eight Spartans who saw action scored in the contest.

The Warriors were led by junior forward Sam Siemers career and game high 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field (29 in the second half) and he added 10 rebounds for the double double. Senior guard Kyle Plath finished with 19 points and Behm had 12.

With the win, the Spartans improve to 2-4 (1-0 NAC) while the Warriors fall to 2-4 (0-1 NAC). Next action for the Spartans comes on Saturday, December 6, when they take on the Edgewood College Eagles at 4:15 in AU's Thornton Gymnasium.