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Concordia University Chicago Athletics

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Xeo Golding
71
Aurora AUR 3-9,2-5 NACC
79
Winner Concordia Chicago CUC 4-6,4-3 NACC
Aurora AUR
3-9,2-5 NACC
71
Final
79
Concordia Chicago CUC
4-6,4-3 NACC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Aurora AUR 31 40 71
Concordia Chicago CUC 46 33 79

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Danielle Gariglio: Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Cougars Dynamic in Win Over Aurora

RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Hoping to defeat Aurora University for the first time since 2012, the Concordia-Chicago men's basketball team took on the Spartans inside Geiseman Gymnasium this evening. After an electrifying first half, the Cougars made a well-established lead over the reigning NACC champions and managed to pull off the 79-71 victory.

Turning Point:
  • Despite holding a solid 13+ point lead over the Spartans for the majority of the second half, Aurora pitched a comeback down the stretch and pulled within seven points of the Cougars. With 1:27 remaining and the shot clock expiring, Kenta Jones hit a dagger three-pointer that extended CUC's lead to 10 to ultimately close out the game.
Inside the Box Score:
  • With tonight's win the Cougars have defeated Aurora University for the first time in their last 14 meetings against the Spartans. 
  • CUC's eight-point margin of victory is the largest point differential out of the team's last five victories over Aurora.
  • Rookie Brent Hatten shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc tonight, and combined for 16 points, marking his best performance since he scored 17 against Edgewood back on 12/1.
  • Xeo Golding and Raushaun Amos were electric from the floor, combining for 10-of-13 from the charity stripe and scoring three three-pointers each. Golding's scoring set a new career high for the graduate student.
  • Overall, CUC out shot the Spartans 42.9 percent to 36.1 percent from the field.
Quick Recap:
  • Aurora was first to jump onto the scoreboard this evening, with a long three-pointer from the nearside corner. But, the Cougars came ready to work and responded immediately with a deep three from Neil O'Donnell followed by a pull-up jumper from Golding.
  • With 16:19 on the clock in the first half, Golding kissed a layup off the glass and kick started a two-minute, nine-point scoring tear for the Cougars to establish a 16-7 lead.
  • Through the heart of the half, Amos would knock down one of his three-pointers to push Aurora's deficit to eight, just before the Spartans would pick things up and pull back within four points of CUC.
  • With three minutes remaining in the frame, Hatten nailed a three and gave Concordia-Chicago its first double-digit lead of the day. 
  • Thanks to another long ball from Amos, with 27 seconds left on the clock, CUC would head into halftime with a 15-point lead off 60 percent field goal shooting.
  • Just two minutes into the second, Hatten sank a driving layup that gave Concordia a 20-point lead at 51-31. The 20-point difference was the largest margin of the game.
  • While continuing to hold a 20-point lead over the Spartans, Aurora would eventually make things close again as their eight-point scoring run brought the score to 70-58, with three minutes to go.
  • Aurora would give a valiant effort and pull once more within five points of CUC, but a clutch three-pointer from Jones and a slam-dunk exclamation from Golding would solidify CUC's 79-71 victory. 
Kollar's Take:
  • "I'm super proud of the way everybody stepped up in whatever role they had tonight, and we defended our tails off. It was an incredible team win."
Up Next:
  • With the win, the Cougars improve to 4-3 in NACC play and will return to the floor on Thursday night for a non-conference tune up. CUC will host Maranatha Baptist at 7 p.m. inside Geiseman Gymnasium.
Tweets of the Game:

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