Welton is averaging 25.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this season for the No. 23 ranked Spartans. (Photo courtesy of Aurora University)

Spartan’s hot start gains national attention
AURORA, Ill. -- The Aurora University Spartan men's basketball team is off to a 4-0 start to the 2006-2007 season and in doing so, AU garnered national attention from D3hoops.com. In the latest Top 25 poll, the Spartan men were ranked No. 23 after receiving votes the previous two weeks in the poll.

AU has been led by D3hoops.com Second-Team preseason All-American forward Larry Welton, senior guard Darrick Leonard and the sophomore guard duo of Chad Trudo and Dusty Magee. Welton has lived up to his preseason billing thus far, averaging 25.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, while shooting 44.2 percent (34 of 77) from the field.

Leonard, who has been AU’s sixth man, is averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.25 assists per game. In AU’s 85-69 win over then No. 13 ranked North Central College, Leonard had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Trudo and Magee have been steady in their sophomore season, with Trudo averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from three-point range and Magee has averaged 10.0 points and 1.50 assists per game.

The Spartan men continue their 2006-2007 schedule on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, when they host Northern Athletics Conference foe Wisconsin Lutheran College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.

Courtesy of Aurora University, Sports Information Department, December 5, 2006.