Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Elmhurst College men's basketball team rallied from a 12-point deficit to edge Kalamazoo College 60-57.

After falling behind by 12 points in the first half, the Bluejays closed to within seven points (25-18) at halftime. 

Kalamazoo (0-5) opened up an 11-point (47-36) lead with less than 10 minutes to play in the second half before Elmhurst mounted its rally. The Bluejays used a 16-5 run over the next six minutes to grab a 54-52 lead. Kalamazoo rallied to to the score at 54-54, but Joe Acosta hit a layup with under three minutes to put the Bluejays back on top. A steal and a bucket by Dustin Bainter gave the Bluejays a 58-54 lead with 1:49 left to play, but Kalamazoo cut the lead back to one after Eric Fishman splashed home a 3-pointer. An Elmhurst turnover with 18 seconds left to play gave Kalamazoo a chance, but A. J. Williams' jumper was no good. Zack Boyd hit a pair of free throws to seal the win for the Bluejays with two seconds left.

Elmhurst was victorious despite shooting only 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from the field. The Bluejays were ice cold from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-12 attempts (8.3 percent). Kalamazoo finished the contest shooting 50 percent (24-of-48) from the field.

Turnovers proved to be critical as the Bluejays converted 19 Kalamazoo turnovers into 15 points. Kalamazoo scored just two points on 10 Elmhurst turnovers.

Boyd led Elmhurst with a career-high 20 points. He also pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds. Aaron Schroeder added 11 points and six rebounds while Bainter totaled eight points, eight rebounds, and five steals. Acosta finished with nine points while Mike McCurdy scored eight.

Kalamazoo was led by Joe Prepolec's 16 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Clark and Harold Hermanson scored nine points apiece in the loss.

Elmhurst hosts Fontbonne University on Tuesday, December 8.