Scots Can't Hold Lead in Tuesday Loss to Aurora

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (12/30/2025) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team led by eight in the second half but couldn't close out the Aurora Spartans in a 78-74 loss Tuesday afternoon. The Fighting Scots (8-4) finish non-conference with two straight losses and they resume conference play Saturday at Cornell.

Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) scored the first points of the game and Cam Thomas (Arlington, Texas) added two free throws. Aurora tied the game before Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) made a 3-pointer and Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) made two free throws. Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) made a free throw for a 10-9 lead before Aurora took the lead with a 3-pointer. Thomas put the Scots back on top with a 3-point play and Kam Banks (Springfield, Illinois) answered an Aurora layup with one of his own. Brown hit consecutive 3-pointers and added a layup for a 23-16 lead. After the Spartans called timeout and scored, Maring hit a 3-pointer for a 26-18 lead. Brown scored again to get into double digits before Aurora shut down the Scots offense and went on a 14-0 run to lead 33-28. Banks finally stopped the run with a layup, ending a 3:30 drought for the Scots. Aurora made two free throws after coach Skrivseth was given a Technical foul and Taylor made two free throws for a 35-32 Spartans lead at halftime.

Taylor tied the game with a 3-pointer to start the second half and Brown hit his third 3-pointer for a 38-35 lead. After the Spartans scored, Maring made a layup in transition and added a free throw. Thomas scored the next five points but Aurora answered with a mini run of their own. Payton Crims (Alsip, Illinois) put the Scots up 48-44 with a layup and Taylor hit a jumper. The teams traded buckets until Banks and Taylor scored off steals for a 56-48 Monmouth lead. Aurora scored the next four but Banks hit a 3-pointer and a free throw. Brown and Thomas scored the next six points for the Scots as Aurora made three free throws for a 66-60 game.

The Spartans scored the next six points to tie the game with 5:45 to play. Brown hit a long jumper and Taylor made a layup for a 70-66 lead. Aurora again tied the game before Brown made a free throw. Aurora made two free throws for the lead and the Scots called timeout with 1:19 to play. After a miss by Monmouth, Aurora scored on a second chance bucket with 45 seconds left. Maring rebounded a missed 3-pointer but missed both free throws with 34 seconds left. Aurora made two more free throws and Monmouth missed the front end of a 1-and-1, The Spartans converted a layup, Huber made a 3-pointer and the Spartans ran out the clock for a 78-74 win.

Brown led the Scots with 19 points and 10 rebounds while also adding three blocks and three steals. Thomas scored 14 points while Taylor had 13 and Banks scored 10 off the bench. Maring had nine points and six rebounds while Taylor led the team with five assists.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Brown has scored in double digits in every game he has played this seasonHe tied his career high with three made 3-pointers and set a new career high with 24 field goal attemptsThomas has scored at least 11 points in six straight gamesMonmouth out rebounded Aurora 40-31 and offensive boards were 13-2The Scots shot just 37% frmo the field and were outscored at the free throw line 27-13Aurora leads the all-time series 14-12 after winning at home last seasonThe Scots return to MWC action on Saturday at Cornell with a 1 p.m. start and the next home game is at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 against Ripon.

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Monmouth College

Scots Can't Hold Lead in Tuesday Loss to Aurora

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Monmouth College

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