The Millikin men's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season knocking off the Aurora University Spartans 79-70 on Nov. 20 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill.

          Millikin shot 41.5 percent from the field while holding Aurora to 37 percent.  Millikin won the rebounding battle 47-35.  Both teams were 17-25 from the free throw line. 

          Millikin got off to a fast start building a 16-4 advantage five minutes into the game.  Millikin led by as many as 14 in the first half before the Spartans battled back to make it a 47-43 game at the half.  Millikin battled through foul trouble early in the second half, but managed to stay with the Spartans.  Aurora had its only lead of the game at 56-55 with just over 10 minutes left to play.  The Big Blue then got back on track and steadily pulled away for the nine point victory.

          Millikin's win was a solid team effort with five different players scoring in double figures.  TJ Griffin led the way with 17 points.  Deavis Johnson had a double double with 12 points and a team high 16 rebounds.  Freshman Shaq Edwards came off the bench to score 12 points.  Tives Gardner and Tommy Picklas each had 11 points.  Jacob Kueker had nine points while Jaylon Owens contributed seven rebounds, three steals and five points.

          Tyler Hall led the Spartans with 22 points and a team high seven rebounds.  Scot Laskowski added 13.

          The victory was another step ahead in the Big Blue rebuilding effort as Millikin snapped a four game Aurora winning streak in the series between the two programs.

          Millikin is now 3-0 while Aurora falls to 2-1.  Millikin will play at Loras College on Nov. 22 and then travel to Coe College on Nov. 23.