Aurora University’s Josh Tinney, a freshman guard, has been here before.
When the minutes matter, his AU teammates can count Tinney. At least, that was his history in high school at Waubonsie Valley and it certainly looks like that’s holding true at the next level.
The 6-foot-1 Tinney was limited early in the season by a strained Achilles tendon and a foot injury, but he kept at it. Now, with the Spartans’ turnaround getting down to crunch time, he’s ready.
“It took me a while to find my role on the team, but once I did, it’s been a lot of fun,” Tinney said. “Right now, I’m doing whatever is asked of me. I crash on plays as hard as I can.
“Typically, I’ve been a scorer, but right now, I’m giving a couple guys a break.”
Tinney got the call for extended minutes Wednesday night, coming through with seven points, three rebounds and two assists for host AU in a tense 87-78 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Benedictine.
Aurora University’s Josh Tinney (10) looks to finish off a fast-break layup against Benedictine during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Starting junior guard Mekhi Doby was limited due to a minor injury, so Tinney also turning in some scrappy plays sparked the Spartans (20-4, 15-2), who advanced to Saturday’s regular-season finale at Milwaukee School of Engineering with a share of the conference title on the line.
Junior guards Jeffery Hillmer and Juan Madrigal scored 29 and 26 points, respectively, for AU.
Junior forward Nathan LaPlant, an Andrew product, paced Benedictine (9-15, 8-9) with 18 points. Sophomore guard Noah Mason, an Oswego East graduate, added 15.
“I like him a lot,” AU coach Steve Christiansen said of Tinney, who came into the game with just 106 minutes of playing time in 13 games. “He just had such a loaded team, he was the third or fourth option in high school. He’s getting better and better.”
Aurora University’s Josh Tinney (10) dribbles to his left against Benedictine during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Milwaukee School of Engineering (17-7, 15-2) created a logjam at the top of the standings with a win over conference leader St. Norbert (18-6, 15-2).
AU had a 17-game winning streak snapped last Saturday in a home loss to St. Norbert and also lost to Benedictine in the third game of the season.
“They’re our rival for sure,” Christiansen said of the Eagles, who also beat St. Norbert and will be in next week’s conference tournament. “They play hard. They’re fighting to salvage a challenging season and we’re fighting for a share of the title and a higher seed in the tournament.
“Playing for the conference title is big, even if it doesn’t mean we get the top seed. If you’d told us back in August we’d be doing this, we’d have taken it and run with it. So that’s what’s exciting.”
Aurora University’s Josh Tinney (10) goes up in a crowd for a shot against Benedictine during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
The higher seeds host throughout the NACC Tournament.
Tinney, who played on varsity the second half of his sophomore season at Waubonsie, missed his junior year after tearing the meniscus in his left knee in football and watched the Warriors go 27-3.
He returned and became a key contributor as a senior, then debated between football and basketball for college until Christiansen sold him on the Spartans.
“It’s so much fun, a lot better than I thought it would be,” Tinney said. “When I came in, I didn’t expect this much talent to be around me, but there’s so much talent here. It’s so much fun
“(Christiansen) coaches me up hard, but I need that. I love that.”
Aurora University’s Josh Tinney (10) makes a move toward the basket against Benedictine during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
AU lost 6-8 center Devon Richardson early in the second half with an apparent head injury, but the Spartans still claimed a 47-33 rebounding edge, getting 14 from Hillmer and 12 from Richardson.
For Tinney, though, it also was another chance to showcase his talent.
“This one was about grit (Wednesday night),” Christiansen said. “That was a collective effort.
“Josh was out early, otherwise we think you’d be seeing what you’ve seen from him here lately much sooner. It takes hustle plays he give, rebounds, everything to win a game like this.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/josh-tinney-waubonsie-valley-aurora-university/
