Aurora, Ill. - The Illinois Tech men's basketball team played Aurora close in a low-scoring first half Wednesday night, but the host Spartans pulled away in the second half to defeat the Scarlet Hawks 67-44 in the NACC conference opener for both teams. The Hawks dropped to 1-6 on the season(0-1 NACC). The Spartans improved to 2-4(1-0 NACC).

The Hawks struggled from the field, hitting 34% of their shots, including just 2-17 from three-point range. Conversely, the Spartans shot 50% from the field, and 8-21 from three.

How It Happened:

First Half

• An Ahmad Muhammad three-pointer at the 17:38 mark put the Hawks on the board, and tied the game at 3-3.
• The teams went scoreless over the next two minutes before a Julian Gatewood three-pointer started a mini 5-0 run for the Spartans.
• A Milos Dugalic jumper at the 9:29 mark tied the game at 14-14.
• The Spartans outscored the Hawks 15-10 the rest of the way to pull into halftime with a 29-24 lead.
• Muhammad paced the Hawks with seven points and four rebounds in the half.
• Shamar Pumphrey had seven points for the Spartans.

Second Half

• A pair of Dugalic free throws brought the Hawks within three points at 29-26 12 seconds into the half.
• A Nathan Yockey three-pointer at the 17:14 mark completed an 11-0 run for the Spartans, and forced Illinois Tech into a timeout, trailing 40-26.
• Another Spartan run of 10-4 pushed the Spartans lead to 50-30 at the 12:53 mark.
• An Otis Reale three-pointer at the 6:27 mark brought the Hawks within 15 points at 55-40.
• The Spartans would outscore the Hawks 12-4 over the final minutes en route to their 67-44 victory.
• Reale had seven points for the Hawks to lead the team in second-half scoring.
• Brooks Schoon had nine points and four rebounds for Aurora.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Muhammad finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two steals.
• Reale had 13 points.

Spartans Watch

• Schoon paced the Spartans with 10 points and six rebounds.
• Yockey had nine points and four rebounds.

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks shot 11.8% from three-point range on 2-17 shooting. The Spartans finished at 38.1% from three (8-21). 
• The Hawks committed 14 fouls in the contest; the Spartans had 15 fouls.
• Illinois Tech was 12-15 from the line(80%). Aurora was 7-10(70%).
• The Hawks turned the ball over 20 times. The Spartans had 15 turnovers.
• Dugalic was the minutes leader for the Hawks, playing 31 minutes. Pumphrey and Ha'Ashim Keys eached played 29 minutes for Aurora.

Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks return home to face MSOE in a conference matchup Saturday, December 4th at 4:15pm at the Keating Center.