Box Score NAPERVILLE, Ill. - A season-high 26 turnovers hampered the Elmhurst men's basketball team in a 72-64 loss at North Central College.

The game featured nine ties and 13 lead changes before North Central (9-7, 2-3 CCIW) took control over a critical stretch in the second half.

Elmhurst (10-6, 2-3 CCIW) trailed by as many as eight points in the opening half, before using a 15-2 run to take a five-point lead. The Bluejays led 29-26 at the break.

The two squads traded buckets and the lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Elmhurst went on top 48-47 with 8:30 remaining on a Nathan Rogers three-pointer from the baseline. The Bluejays extended their lead to three points on a Nick Sanford lay-up before North Central's Vince Kmiec tied the score at 49 on the Cardinals' first three-pointer of the game with 6:52 left on the clock.

Elmhurst grabbed a 53-52 lead on a Pat Coleman lay-up, but the Cardinals tied the score on a Pat Rourke free throw. North Central took advantage of four consecutive Elmhurst turnovers to score eight straight points and take a 61-53 lead with 2:46 left to play.

Elmhurst pulled to within five points with 1:37 remaining off a Rogers three-pointer, but the Cardinals were able to put the game away from the free throw line.

Elmhurst shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46) from the floor, including 60.0 percent (12-of-20) in the second half. The Bluejays were plaques by turnovers throughout the contest, committing a season-high 26 turnovers, including 16 in the second half.

Kyle Wuest came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points. Coleman chipped in with 14 points while Nick Sanford totaled nine points and 10 rebounds.

North Central shot 50.0 percent (23-of-46) from the field and 75.8 percent (25-of-33) from the foul line. Kmiec paced the Cardinals in the win, scoring a game-high 24 points. Landon Gamble added 19 points and six rebounds while Jack Burchett scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Elmhurst hosts Carthage College on Wednesday, January 22.