AURORA, Ill. (SabreAthletics.com) – Turnovers plagued the Marian University men's basketball team as host Aurora University claimed an 83-75 Northern Athletics Conference victory inside Thornton Gymnasium this evening, January 7.

The Spartans converted 20 Marian turnovers into 26 points en route to the victory. Scott Laskowski led five Spartans in double-figures with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He also added a game-high 10 rebounds. Jeff Harris led the Sabres with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-7 from downtown.

Marian falls to 3-10 overall, 0-5 in the NAC, while Aurora improves to 6-6 (2-2 NAC).

The Sabres shot 44 percent (26-of-59) from the floor, including 8-of-22 from three-point range and a 15-for-16 clip at the free throw line. The Spartans went 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from the field, including 5-for-15 from long range and 26-for-31 from the free throw line.

A 12-0 Spartan run in the first half helped propel them to a 34-29 lead at halftime. By the 11:19 mark in the second half, a Cody Veleke jumper tied it up at 51-51. However, a 7-0 run by Aurora, capped off by a pair of Contino Hunter free throws made it 58-51 and they never looked back.

The Sabres were able to cut the deficit to as little as three points, 72-69, at the 1:19 mark, but free throws kept the Spartans in front until the end.

The Sabres will host Lakeland College this Wednesday, Jan. 11, inside Sadoff Gymnasium at 7 p.m.