Millikin Box Score
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College men's basketball team fell to 0-2 in CCIW competition following a 91-84 double overtime loss to Millikin University.
Elmhurst dropped its third straight contest, falling to 9-4 on the season, while Millikin improved to 10-2 overall and 1-1 in CCIW play with the win.
Elmhurst led by as many as 16 points in the first half (26-10) with just over eight minutes to play, but Millikin closed the half on a 20-7 run to pull to within three points (33-30) at the break.
The Bluejays built their lead back to eight points in the second half, but Millikin answered back, chipping away and taking it's first lead with nine minutes to play. Elmhurst retook the lead on a Mike McCurdy lay-up with two minutes to play, but Millikin's Mark Patrick splashed in a 3-pointer with 1:41 left to give the Big Blue a two-point cushion. Brent Ruch evened the score with a jumper with 1:19 left. After a Patrick bucket with 46 seconds left, Ruch hit two free throws with 28 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, the Bluejays built a four-point lead with two minutes to play, but Millikin again had an answer. A jumper by Charles Warren, cut the lead down to two points (73-71)with 1:50 remaining. Elmhurst held its two-point lead with under a minute, but a turnover and an intentional foul with 25 seconds left, allowed Millikin's Brandon Bright to tie the game at 75-all. Millikin missed a jumper at the buzzer to send the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime, the Big Blue pulled away from the Bluejays opening up an eight point lead (85-77) with 50 seconds left in the game, finally sealing the win 91-84.
Elmhurst finished the game shooting 52.5 percent (31-of-59) from the field, including 7-of-14 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bluejays struggled from the foul line, shooting only 62.5 percent (15-of-24).
Millikin shot 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the floor, including 28.6 percent (2-of-7). The Big Blue shot 80.6 percent (25-of-31) from the charity stripe.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Ruch finished with a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. McCurdy scored a career-high 19 points while Ryan Burks added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Joe Acosta came off the bench to score 10 for the Bluejays.
Millikin was led led by Tunde Ogunleye's game-high 25 points. Corey Mitchell and Charles Warren each added 14 points. Mark Patrick scored 12 and Joscar Demby added 11.
Elmhurst will look to snap it's three-game skid by hosting North Park University on Wednesday, January 14.
