AURORA, Ill. - St. Norbert College took over in the game's final 10 minutes and went on to post a crucial 81-72 road win at Aurora University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference contest at Thornton Gymnasium.

The Green Knights (7-1, 4-1 NACC) and Spartans were tied at 57-57 with just under 10 minutes remaining before St. Norbert began to pull away. The win handed Aurora (6-4, 3-1) its first NACC loss and gives St. Norbert momentum heading into next Saturday's (Dec. 16) home game against Calvin University, currently ranked No. 2 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

Brandt Wilson's layup with 8:54 left gave St. Norbert a 59-57 lead, and Carter Gebler followed with a jumper with 7:55 to go for a four-point edge. Aurora scored on its next possession but Connor Pytleski responded with a 3-pointer with 6:56 left for a 64-59 edge. Each team had a pair of empty possessions before the Spartans got to within three after a pair of free throws, but Harrington boosted the lead to 67-61 with a triple with 4:46 to go.

Aurora then committed an offensive foul and Garrett Grzesk answered with a 3-pointer for a 70-61 lead with 3:59 left. Aurora would score on its next two possessions, but St. Norbert had a response each time with a Jamison Nickolai layup and a pair of Grzesk free throws. The Green Knights would make 7 of 8 free throws over the final 1:29 to salt away the win.

The Spartans got the early jump, taking a 14-7 lead out of the gate. Aurora would continue to hold the lead for most of the rest of the first half, but never more than six points. The Green Knights trailed 39-33 with 4:27 left, but then got six-straight stops to eventually take a 40-39 lead on a Nickolai basket. The Spartans would bounce back to take a 42-40 lead at halftime.

St. Norbert opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 49-44 lead on an Evan Glaser basket with 15:28 to go. Aurora answered with six-straight point to retake the lead, with the game staying within one possession until the Green Knights began their ascent late.

The Green Knights shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the floor, 54.5 percent (12-for-22) from beyond the three-point arc and 86.7 percent (13-for-15) at the free-throw line. St. Norbert also had a 34-19 rebounding advantage. Grzesk paced the Green Knights with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Nickolai had 14 points and nine rebounds, Aidan Harrington 11 points and Glaser 10 points and seven rebounds. Gebler finished with nine points to just miss putting all five St. Norbert starters into double figures.

Aurora shot 45.5 percent (25-for-55) from the floor and 13-for-24 (54.2 percent) on three-point field-goal attempts. Isaiah Davis led the Spartans with 19 points, while Joevonn McCottry added 16 points.