AURORA, Ill. – Aurora University came back from a 24-point halftime deficit to force overtime and went on to deal the Lakeland University men's basketball team a stinging 97-93 loss Saturday afternoon at Thornton Gymnasium.

A red-hot first 20 minutes wasn't able to carry the Muskies far enough as the Spartans answered with an equally superb last 25 minutes. The result leaves Lakeland at 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, while Aurora improved to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the NACC.

The Muskies led by 10 points with just over four minutes left in regulation after Isaiah Hammond (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) scored for an 82-72 lead, but Lakeland would not score in the final 4 minutes, 26 seconds. The Spartans finished regulation on a 10-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by Trey Jenkins to tie the game at 82-82 with 52 seconds left.

Aurora scored the first three points in overtime, putting the Muskies in catchup mode the rest of the way. Lakeland tied the score twice in the extra period, the last time when Asanjai Hunter (Fr.-Racine, Wis.) split two free throws to knot it at 88-88 with 2:13 left. The Muskies trailed 95-92 after a Noah Butler free throw with 15 seconds left, but a tying three-point attempt missed and Nolan Boffman made two free throws to close out the scoring.

The Spartans stormed back after a scorching Muskies first half, when Lakeland built a 55-31 lead at the break. Cam Jaeger (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) scored 20 points and Aiden Polzin (So.-Clintonville, Wis.) added 17 points to outscore Aurora by themselves, combining for eight three-pointers. The Muskies shot 60% (18 of 30) in the opening half, made 11 of 17 from three-point range and also drilled the hosts on the boards to the tune of a 25-9 rebounding advantage.

Aurora came out quickly in the second half and had cut the deficit down to 59-45 less than five minutes into the half after a layup by Boffman. The Muskies cooled, shooting 39.1% (9 of 23) in the second half while Aurora flourished, hitting 21 of 34 shots (61.8%) and dominating the glass 21-7. Lakeland still led by no less than nine points until the Spartans' closing push to tie.

Jaeger finished with 25 points and Polzin added 22, but the two were held to a combined 10 points after halftime. Kai Buliox (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) added 11 points and Hammond scored 10.

Lakeland finished shooting 50% (31 of 62), including 16 of 34 (47.1%) from long range. The Muskies committed 22 turnovers and Aurora came back to win the rebounding battle 38-35. The Spartans also dominated scoring inside with a 62-28 bulge in points in the paint.

Lakeland is off for final exams next week and will next face Milwaukee School of Engineering next Saturday at 2 p.m.