Aurora extended their home win streak to 13 games with an outstanding performance from senior guard Adam McCoy. He led all scorers, seven in double figures, with 28 points on 9 of 20 shooting from the field (5 of 11 from three-point range). Aurora is now 54-4 at home in Thornton Gymnasium since the 2000-2001 season.
Aurora took a 39-25 lead to halftime behind 47 percent shooting from the field. The Spartans held Benedictine to 32 percent shooting from the field for the half and 35 percent for the game.
Joining McCoy in the winning effort for AU, was freshman forward Larry Welton with 12 points and nine boards, junior guard Courtney Carson had 10 points on five of eight shooting from the field. Sophomore guard Aaron Burden chipped in eight points off the bench, while senior forward Drew Gronau grabbed 11 rebounds and had three steals.
Benedictine was led by senior center Brice Amelianoich’s double double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, senior guard Zach Ramey had 12 points and six assists, while junior guard Matt Harrison and senior forward Marcus Jackson each added 10 points and six rebounds.
#21 Aurora improves its record to 23-4 and 11-1 in the NIIC, while Benedictine falls to 21-7 and 9-3 in the NIIC. Aurora captured both the NIIC regular season and tournament championships, the first time the NIIC men’s division has had such an occurrence.
Aurora awaits word in tomorrow night's NCAA Division III National Tournament selection show for its opponent in the tournament and Benedictine hopes of a second consecutive tournament appearance hinge on a Pool C bid. Aurora will be making their third NCAA Division III Championships appearance in five seasons.
Benedictine University Men vs #21 Aurora University Men 2/26/05 3:00 p.m. at Aurora University Thornton Gymnasium At Aurora University Thornton Gymnasium #21 AURORA UNIVERSITY MEN 69, BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY MEN 66 BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY MEN (21-7; 9-3 NIIC) AMELIANOVICH, Brice 7-12 2-4 16; RAMEY, Zach 2-11 6-6 12; HARRISON, Matt 3-11 2-2 10; JACKSON, Marcus 3-9 4-5 10; HANSEN, Adam 2-3 3-3 7; MITCHELL, Dwight 2-4 2-2 7; DUNSMORE, Jordan 1-2 0-0 2; SWANSON, Tim 1-3 0-0 2; FRANKLIN, Jimmy 0-1 0-0 0; SHIMKUS, Mike 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-59 19-22 66. #21 AURORA UNIVERSITY MEN (23-4; 11-1 NIIC) MCCOY, Adam 9-20 5-5 28; WELTON, Larry 3-13 5-6 12; CARSON, Courtney 5-8 0-2 10; BURDEN, Aaron 4-7 0-0 8; CARSON, Tony 2-2 0-0 5; GRONAU, Drew 2-10 0-2 4; CARTWRIGHT, Jeremy 1-2 0-0 2; STAHL, Ben 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-63 10-15 69. Benedictine University Men.... 25 41 - 66 #21 Aurora University Men..... 39 30 - 69 3-point goals-Benedictine University Men 5-21 (HARRISON, Matt 2-8; RAMEY, Zach 2-8; MITCHELL, Dwight 1-1; SWANSON, Tim 0-1; SHIMKUS, Mike 0-3), #21 Aurora University Men 7-18 (MCCOY, Adam 5-11; CARSON, Tony 1-1; WELTON, Larry 1-2; GRONAU, Drew 0-3; BURDEN, Aaron 0-1). Fouled out--Benedictine University Men-None, #21 Aurora University Men-CARTWRIGHT, Jeremy; RAUCH, Jeremy. Rebounds-Benedictine University Men 43 (AMELIANOVICH, Brice 11), #21 Aurora University Men 40 (GRONAU, Drew 11). Assists-Benedictine University Men 14 (RAMEY, Zach 6), #21 Aurora University Men 15 (BURDEN, Aaron 3; CARSON, Courtney 3; WELTON, Larry 3). Total fouls-Benedictine University Men 16, #21 Aurora University Men 19. A-1100 NIIC Tournament Championship Game. #1 Aurora vs. #2 Benedictine Aurora advances to the 2005 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships with the NIIC automatic berth. Championship field will be announced Sunday, February 27, 2005. AU won both the regular season and tournament championships