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MADISON, Wis. - Junior forward Kent Faurote nearly posted the second triple-double in Edgewood College history and the Eagles shot a school record 69.2 percent from the field as the Eagles overwhelmed Aurora University at “Jam the Gym.” Junior guard Ben Wisniewski and senior forward Jeff Barczak each scored 21 points as the Eagles won their 10th conference game.

The Eagles started hot and only got hotter as the first half progressed. Faurote hit three baskets and Wisniewski added a pair of three-pointers as Edgewood College (14-7, 10-3 NAC) made seven of their first 12 shots and opened a 22-17 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. From that point, the Eagles went supernova. The Eagles would make 11 consecutive shots over the next eight minutes to turn a close game into a 53-27 runaway with three minutes to play in the first half. Barczak made four buckets in the streak, while Wisniewski scored three times including another three-pointer. Faurote added two baskets, Derek Nkemnji one and Cashton Craig nailed a triple, in what amounted to a 29-10 run.

The Eagles peaked out at 78.3 percent (18-for-23) after a Barczak three-point basket with 3:31 to go, then “settled” for shooting 71.4 percent (20-for-28) in the first half and leading Aurora University (12-9, 7-6 NAC) 57-35. It was the Eagles' highest scoring half this season and the most since the 1994-95 season.

Whatever drama there was in the second half revolved around the Eagles potential to reach 100 points and Faurote's quest for a triple-double. The junior from Cassville ended the first half with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He picked up his 10th rebound in the first minute of the second half and added three more assists. The attempt was all the more interesting since Eagle basketball alumni, including Charlie Averkamp who owns the school's only triple-double in history, were in attendance for “Jam the Gym.” Faurote finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. The Eagles reached 98 points with 34 seconds left, on two driving baskets by Travis Schaaf and another by Brandon Griffith, but Griffith opted for the sportsmanlike play of dribbling out the clock on the Eagles final possession.

With Barczak and Wisniewski each hitting the 20-point mark, Edgewood College has had two players reach 20 points or more in each of the last three games. Barczak finished with 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting and seven rebounds. Wisniewski went 8-for-11 from the field, including 5-for-8 from the three-point line. Nkemnji went 4-for-5 for 12 points and improved his season field goal percentage to 67.4 percent. The Eagles' shooting percentage of 69.2 percent (36-for-52) broke the school record of 68.2 percent set last season at Maranatha Baptist on February 11, 2010. The Eagles also broke the school record for three-point field goal percentage going for 62.5 percent (10-for-16) from the arc. Edgewood College also had a season-high 24 assists.

Aurora University was led by Mike Bumber who tallied 17 points, including 11 in the second half. Scott Laskowski and Skyler Ormsbee added 14 points apiece, while Joel Iventosch came off the bench to score 13 points. The Spartans managed to score 24 points off of 14 Edgewood College turnovers, but never got closer than 16 points in the second half.

The Eagles have clinched, at worst, a tie for second place in the Northern Athletics Conference North Division. Edgewood College can guarantee a home game in the first round of the NAC Tournament with one more win or a Lakeland College loss. The Eagles will get that chance on Tuesday, when they host Maranatha Baptist at 7:00 p.m. at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.