In a match-up between the 2010-2011 Freshmen of the Year in AU's Scott Laskowski (Northern Athletics Conference) and North Central's Landon Gamble (CCIW), the Spartans and Laskowski would prevail 94-82 Tuesday evening in AU's Thornton Gymnasium.
AU behind six points from Laskowski jumped out to a quick 13-6 lead on the visiting Cardinals and forced a timeout by the visitors with 15:49 to play in the opening half.
The timeout seemed to work as North Central began to claw its way back into the contest and tied the game 28-28 with 7:09 to play in the first-half.
After an AU timeout, AU senior guard Contino Hunter knocked down a three-point field goal giving the home team a 31-28 lead but the Cardinals showed why they are picked among the favorites in the CCIW. North Central finished the first-half on a 15-7 run to take a 43-38 lead into the halftime intermission.
Laskowski led all scorers in the opening frame with 15 points (7-of-9 shooting) while Gamble had 14 points for the Cardinals.
The second-half started much like the first-half ended with the Cardinals knocking down shots and they would build an 11-point advantage just two minutes into the half (50-39) on a CJ Goldthree three-point field goal.
With 17:01 to play, the visitors held a 10-point lead (52-42) and the Spartans began their comeback. A 22-5 Spartan run moved the hosts ahead by seven (64-57) with 11:30 to play. AU Junior guard Esteban Vega nailed a three-point bucket to give the Spartans the biggest lead of the game to that point. In the AU run, six different Spartans scored with Hunter tallying six points.
The visitors were not to be out done though as the Cardinals leaned on Gamble and fellow sophomore Charlie Rosenberg who scored six points each to give NCC a 73-70 lead with 7:30 to play.
As the crowd in Thornton Gymnasium had seen the entire game, AU had a run in them once again to regain and hold on for the eventual win.
In the final 7:12, the Spartans trio of Laskowski, Hunter and freshman center Kyle Pilmer combined for 22 of the final 24 AU points in a 24-9 run to close out the game. Hunter had 14 of those points with Pilmer playing big minutes for the Spartans and chipping in six of his 10 points in the final minutes.
When the final horn sounded, AU defeated their neighbors to the east 94-82 behind 27 points and four assists from Hunter, Laskowski added 22 points (10-of-12 shooting) and eight rebounds, sophomore guard Jordan Hester had 13 points and six assists (11 second half points) and Pilmer had 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
For North Central (2-1 overall), Gamble led with 28 points (12-of-19 shooting), while Goldthree (20 points), Rosenberg (13 points and eight rebounds) and junior forward Derek Raridon (11 points and six assists) all scored in double digits.
AU improves to 2-2 on the season and is in action again on Saturday, Nov. 26 when they host Carleton College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.