RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- In their final game of the season, Concordia University Chicago (6-19, 6-14 NACC) celebrated seniors
Mitch Pelissier and
Jamal Turner as they took on Aurora University (14-11, 12-8 NACC). For both teams, this matchup was the final game of the regular season, with the Spartans will be moving on to the NACC Tournament.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- With 26 points on the day, Pelissier took over lone possession of second place on CUC's all-time scoring list. The Washington native finished his career with 1,828 total points.
- The Cougars scored 44 of their 88 points from inside the paint.
- Hassan Basbous, Landen Gladney, and Jalen Meeks all recorded double-doubles on the evening.
The first three scoring possessions for the Cougars resulted in two three-pointers from Pelissier and a layup from Turner. After two electric blocks from Gladney on back-to-back Aurora possessions, Basbous finished with a jumper.
With under 13 to go in the half, Pelissier was able to score a three-point play, giving the Cougars the lead back with a score of 16-14. Following an Aurora basket, the Spartans were able to force a turnover and stretch their lead to five. With just over eight minutes left to go in the half, the Spartans led 30-24.
After an offensive rebound, Basbous made the putback and drew an Aurora foul to make the three-point play. He also scored a layup on a fast break play a few possessions later, shrinking the Aurora lead to three points.
After a three-pointer from Pelissier and a buzzer beater from Gladney, the Cougars were able to shrink the lead to four with a score of 50-54 at the half.
In the second half, an early three-pointer from Turner and a jumper from Meeks kept the Cougars within five points despite a strong performance out of the gate for the Spartans. With a layup for Meeks after sinking a free throw, the Cougars were within two with a score of 63-65.
With a steal from
Neil O'Donnell, Gladney secured an offensive rebound and drew the foul, taking him to the line where he would score two. With a short jumper from Basbous, the Cougars were just down by one, but Aurora answered back with a commandin 6-0 run.
Following a well-timed Concordia timeout, Pelissier sank a three-pointer while being fouled for a four-point play. Down to eight minutes left to go in the half, Basbous scored a layup, making it 79-76 in favor of the Spartans. Aurora then went on a 10-0 run, stretching their lead to 13. This did not go unanswered, however, as the Cougars made their own 8-0 run.
Unable to come back from the deficit, Concordia-Chicago dropped their final game of the season to Aurora with a score of 99-88.
