Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. - Nick Sanford tipped in the game-winning bucket with three seconds remaining to lift the Elmhurst College men's basketball team to a 61-59 victory over DePauw University in the opening round of the Bluejay Classic Tournament.

Elmhurst (5-5) and DePauw (6-4) traded leads seven times in the opening half with the Tigers building a 30-27 lead at halftime on a Tommy Weakley three-pointer just before the half. DePauw opened the second half on a 5-0 run to build an eight-point advantage before the Bluejays started to chip away at the lead. Aaron Schroeder's 3-pointer with 11:28 left to play but Elmhurst back on top by a point. The Tigers went back on top on a Sean Haseley lay-up, but Sean Fendley knocked down a three-pointer for Elmhurst to give the Bluejays a 48-47 edge with eight minutes to go.

Elmhurst built a five-point advantage with 1:24 remaining, but Weakley was fouled as he attempted a three-pointer. He hit all three free throws to pull the Tigers to within a bucket. After an Elmhurst miss, Haseley was fouled with 12 seconds to go. He hit both free throws to knot the score at 59-59. Elmhurst's Mike McCurdy drove into the lane in the closing seconds and had his jumper bounce off the rim. Sanford leaped up and tipped the ball through the basket to give the Bluejays the victory.

DePauw outshot Elmhurst 53.8 percent (21-of-39) to 41.8 percent (23-of-55), but the Bluejays capitalized on the Tigers' mistakes. Elmhurst turned 17 DePauw turnovers into 26 points. The Bluejays turned the ball over only seven times in the game.

Fendley and Steve Crane scored 10 points apiece to lead a balanced Elmhurst attack. McCurdy added nine points while Sanford,  Schroeder, and Zack Boyd scored eight points apiece for Elmhurst.

Haseley and Joe Bergfeld totaled 15 points apiece for the Tigers. Weakley scored 12 in the loss.

Elmhurst will face Benedictine in the tournament's championship game tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. DePauw will take on Calvin in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. Benedictine toppled Calvin 82-79 in the tournament's opening contest.