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MADISON, Wis. - Fans that expected offensive fireworks didn't get exactly what they hoped for, but the Edgewood College men's basketball team scored just enough and made some key defensive plays down the stretch for a 72-69 victory over Aurora University on Saturday evening.
Edgewood College (3-3, 2-0 NAC) broke a 56-56 tie with 6:46 left to play by going on 10-3 run. Junior Jeff Barczak scored a three-point basket and a layup to get things rolling, while sophomore Derek Nkemnji scored three points in the run. Aurora University (1-6, 0-2 NAC) climbed back and cut the lead to one at 68-67 on a Dusty Magee layup with 1:21 left to play.
The teams traded baskets before the Spartans pulled down a rebound from an Eagle miss and called timeout with 23 seconds to play. Aurora chose to put the ball in the hands of Lance Robinson and he seemed to have a clear path to the basket, until Nkemnji came flying in from the weakside to swat Robinson's attempt away. Finishing the play, the Madison Memorial graduate grabbed the rebound and fired it downcourt to Andrew Cobb who held on to force the Spartans to foul.
Aurora had to foul a second time to force a bonus situation, but Barczak calmly sank both free throws for a three-point lead. Ari Iventosch got off a potential tying three point shot with two seconds left, but it was off the mark.
In the first half, Aurora University posted an 8-0 run to take a 16-9 lead, but the Eagles responded with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game at 16. The two teams tied four times in the first half, including a 30-30 deadlock at the break.
Barczak finished with a game-high 19 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point line and eight rebounds. Nkemnji went 5-for-8 from the field and finished with 12 points. Freshman Andrew Cobb and sophomore Ben Wisniewski chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Eagles held a massive rebounding edge over the Spartans 44-28. The Eagles shot 50 percent or better from the field for the second time this season, hitting exactly half of their shots (28-for-56).
Aurora University had four players in double figures as well, led by Shane Roland's 14 points. Magee finished with three three-point baskets and 13 points on the night. Skyler Ormsbee pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
Edgewood College will be on the road twice next week with games at Lakeland College and Benedictine University.
