Spartans Defeat Top Seeded Eagles

AURORA, Ill. February 27, 2009 - The Aurora University Spartans men’s basketball team, the No. 5 seed in the 2009 Northern Athletics Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, defeated the top seeded Eagles of Benedictine University 74-72 at BU’s Rice Center on Friday evening in the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) Tournament semi-final game.

The win advances the Spartans to the 2009 NAC Tournament Championship game against the No. 7 seed Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in AU’s Thornton Gymnasium with the game time set for 7:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships.

An AU win would mark a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championships and a fourth trip in five seasons for Head Coach James Lancaster’s Spartans.

In tonight’s action at Benedictine, AU senior guard Chad Trudo had a career high 33 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field and three-of-five from three-point range. With the three three-point field goals, he passed 2005 graduate Adam McCoy as the all-time three-point field goals made record holder.

The Spartans found themselves trailing early, as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and would never trail in the opening half. A three-point field goal by junior forward Cameron Snelling with 15:30 to play gave the Eagles a six point lead at 11-5.

Four minutes later, consecutive three-point field goals by senior guard Michael Fahey gave the Eagles a 10 point lead and and Benedictine would eventually lead by 12 points with one minute to play in the first half.

Though in the final minute of the half, the Spartans put together a 5-0 run of their own, concluded by a three-point field goal right before the halftime buzzer by Trudo that pulled the Spartans within seven at 36-29 heading into intermission. The three-point bucket tied Trudo with Adam McCoy with 225 made triples on his career.

The Spartans came out of halftime and promptly went on a 14-5 run that was capped off by a lay-up and free throw to cap off the three-point play, giving AU their first lead of the game at 43-41 with 16:38 to play.

AU would continue their run, finishing at a 25-11 run and giving the Spartans a 54-47 lead with 10 minutes of action remaining.

Though the Eagles were not finished themselves, answer the AU burst with a 12-0 run themselves and giving Benedictine a 59-54 lead with 6:35 to play. The Eagle run was ended by Trudo’s three-point basket, the 226th of his career.

The final five minutes of action had both teams fans at the edge of their respective seats as the two teams would see-saw back and forth. Eagle senior guard Jared Bailey drilled a three-point field goal with 32 seconds to play giving BU a 72-71 lead.

Trudo answered with a lay-up with 16 seconds to play, giving the Spartans a lead they would never relinquish.

Junior guard Dusty Magee stole the ball from Eagle freshman guard Nate Green with six seconds to play and following a Spartan sophomore guard Damien Lewis free-throw and miss, the Spartans held on for the 74-72 upset win at Benedictine.

Top Spartan performers included Trudo (33 points) and Robinson (19 points). AU improves their record to 15-12 on the season and will host the NAC Tournament Championship game on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in Thornton Gymnasium against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7:00 p.m.