MILWAUKEE – The MSOE men's basketball team hosted their first conference game of the season on Saturday afternoon, as the Raiders faced off against the Spartans of Aurora University.  The Raiders took the Spartans to overtime, but a late four-point play for Auroa pushed them past MSOE by a final score of 86-82.

FINAL SCORE
MSOE RAIDERS – 82

Aurora University - 86

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MSOE (1-2, 0-1 NACC) and Aurora (1-2, 1-0 NACC) went blow-for-blow to open the contest, as an early Aurora lead was quickly erased by back-to-back threes from Donovan Carter and Mason Dopirak.  The lead changed 26 times across the contest as the Red and White shot only 33% from the field in the first half but were a lights out 53.85% from beyond the arc as the Raiders lethal shooting kept them in the game.  Dopirak would drain a three in the final seconds of the first half as the Raiders and Spartans were tied 40-40 heading into the break.
• The Raiders jumped out to a quick five-point lead in the second half off a three from Jonathan Burroughs and a layup from Carter.  Every time the Raiders looked to build their lead, it seemed the Spartans had an answer, as the game was tied 18 different times.  A three-point play from Aurora would tie things up with just over two minutes to go in regulation as both teams eyed a perfect conference record.  Sitting at 74-74 with less than a minute to play, Burroughs had a couple good looks but was unable to get them to fall, as the Spartans also missed their final shot in regulation as the teams geared up for overtime.
• In overtime, the teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth before a layup from Dopirak gave MSOE the 80-78 advantage.  However, the Spartans would drain a three and be awarded a four-point play after a shooting foul with 1:17 left on the clock.  With two seconds left in the game, Carson Cordelli went to the free throw line with a chance to tie but saw the ball roll around and out of the rim as the Raiders would fall 86-82.

MSOE STAT TRACKER
Points – Mason Dopirak (28)
Rebounds – Jonathan Burroughs and Donovan Carter (8)
Assists – Carson Cordelli (5)
Steals – Chase Cummings and Donovan Carter (2)
Blocks – Donovan Carter & Jonathan Burroughs (2)

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will take the court inside the Kern Center on Wednesday, November 20^th when they take on Beloit College. Tip-off it set for 7:00 PM.

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.MSOERaiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.