The 15th ranked Aurora University Spartan men’s basketball team advanced to the Northern Athletics Conference championship game on Friday night with a win over Lakeland College. The Spartans defended their top seed by mounting a large second half comeback and defeating the Muskies 86-72.
Aurora was led by junior standout Larry Welton, who had 30 points (22 in the second half) on 8-19 shooting. Welton also shot an impressive four-of-six from three-point range and 10-11 from the foul line. Senior guard Darrick Leonard tallied a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while junior forward Mike Leonard pitched in 17 points and seven rebounds..
Lakeland went up big in the first half, eventually building a 16 point lead. The deficit was the largest the host Spartans had faced all season.
Lakeland shot 55.2% (16-of-29) from the field and 58.3% (7-of-12) from three-point range int he opening session, while limiting Aurora to 25.0% (3-of-12) from three-point range and 44.9% (13-of-29) from the field in the first half.
With the score 43-30, in Lakeland’s favor as time was about to expire in the first half, Aurora started its impressive comeback. AU guard Chad Trudo hit a three-pointer as time expired and Lakeland took a 10 point advantage (43-33) into halftime.
The Spartan comeback was highlighted by a 24-0 run that Aurora went on at the end of the first half (beginning with Trudo's three) and continued the torrid pace into the third quarter. Aurora scored the first 21 points of the second half andheld Lakeland scoreless for the first 7:15 of the second half.
Aurora never looked back as Lakeland would get no closer than four point (59-55) in the game and AU eventually went on to the 14-point win.
Aurora finished the game shooting 49.2% (29-of-59) from the field and 37.5% (9-of-24) from three-point range, while Lakeland shot 46.3% (25-of-54) from the field and 37.5% (9-of-24) from beyond the arc.
Muskie sophomore forward Matt Roger led Lakeland with 18 points and five rebounds, while Kris Saiberlich finished with 17 points (14 in the first half).
The next action for the Spartans will be on Saturday, February 24th as they play host to Edgewood College in the NAC championship game 7:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium where the Spartans are 76-7 since the 2000-2001 season.