AURORA, IL - Aurora University made nine three-pointers in the second half to best the Benedictine University men's basketball team in the NACC Championship.


Aurora 76, Benedictine 71


• A tight game throughout, neither team led by more than six points
• Benedictine led for a bulk of the game but Aurora heated up down the stretch to gain control
• Jens Soderholm hit an early three-pointer to give Benedictine an 11-7 edge at the 15:48 mark of the first
• Benedictine continued to lead as Shaka Washington dropped in a three to make the score 18-14 with 12:05 to go
• Eric Grygo made the score 27-22 with a layup with 5:05 left in the first
• Aurora pulled to within 33-32 at the half
• Benedictine scored the first five points of the second half on a Brayden Olson three and a Kenny Bogus layup to grab the largest edge of the game at 38-32
• Aurora instantly hit back-to-back threes to tie the game
• Benedictine went back in front by five on a Soderholm jumper with 12:45 remaining and still led by five at 53-48 with 9:35 to go
• Two free throws put Aurora ahead ahead for the first time since early in the game with 5:30 remaining
• The points were part of a 9-0 run that saw the hosts Aurora lead by five
• Soderholm pulled Benedictine within 72-71 with 1:13 left, but Aurora scored the final five points


• Benedictine finished the game shooting 37.1 percent from the field
• Aurora held a 44-42 rebound edge and shot 60 percent from three-point range in the second half, making nine triples
• Soderholm finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds
• Olson tacked on 21 points with Bogus notching nine and Grygo collecting seven points and eight rebounds
• Benedictine concluded the season 17-10