MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 16th, 2006) -- The Edgewood College men's basketball team was in the holiday spirit as they gave the No. 19th ranked Aurora University Spartans its first loss of the season in a classic battle Saturday evening in the Todd Wehr Edgedome by the score 68-65.

The tandem of Kyle Scott (Burlington, Wis.) and Charlie Averkamp (New Berlin, Wis.) led the charge early for the Eagles (3-4, 3-1 NAC) as Averkamp nailed two three-pointers and Scott followed up with a jumper and a three-pointer of his own to give the Eagles an early lead of 12-0.

The Spartans (6-1, 3-1 NAC) then made a comeback as they got within five points after a Darrick Leonard three-pointer. But the Eagles then went on another streak, this time led by Chris DeMarco (Appleton, Wis.) who scored the next five points to extend the lead to 10 with under six minutes in the half. The Eagles maintained their position as Scott nailed a three-pointer with under two minutes in the half and gave the Eagles a 10 point lead at the half.

The second half was a different story as this team the Spartans came out with the momentum. Mike Leonard led the way for the Spartans as he scored nine points in the first three minutes of the half to help bring the Spartans to within two.

Chad Trudo then nailed a three-pointer to give the Spartans their first lead of the evening with 15:49 left in regulation. Trudo then came back a minute later to bury another trey to give the Spartans a five point lead.

The Eagles then battled back as Evan Klees (Madison, Wis.) gave the lead back to Edgewood after a nice reverse lay-up. The teams then traded leads three times until Klees hit a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give the Eagles a two point lead. Then it was the John Fahey (Oregon, Wis.) free-throw show as he drilled all eight free-throws in the final four minutes to seal the deal for the Eagles with his final two coming with nine seconds remaining to give the Eagles a three point lead.

Aurora's Dusty Magee missed his three-point opportunity with six seconds on the game clock which gave Edgewood the 68-65 victory.

Averkamp scored a game high 23 points and grabbed a career high 19 rebounds. He collected his third double-double of the season in the first half. DeMarco added 21 points of his own and Fahey scored in double-digits with 11. Leonard and All-American Larry Welton scored 15 each to lead the Spartans. Welton was held ten points shy of his season average as he shot only 4-of-12 from the field.

The Eagles conference record now stands at 3-1 which is tied for second with Aurora University and just behind Benedictine University. They next travel to Phoenix, AZ for a match up with Colorado College on Dec. 27.

Game summary by Bill Dictus