ALBION, Mich. – The Elmhurst men's basketball team had its season-opening six-game winning streak snapped in a 64-56 road loss at Albion College.
 
Elmhurst (6-1) struggled with its shooting for much of the first half, scoring the game's first basket and then never leading for the remainder of the half. Albion (3-2) led by as many as eight points in the first half and led 19-12 with seven minutes remaining. Elmhurst closed the half on a 14-7 run, to pull even at the half. Brandon Schwebke knocked down a three-pointer with 46 seconds left and Kenny Payonk hit a buzzer-beating layup to even the score at 26-26 at the break.
 

Albion opened up a quick seven-point cushion early in the second half before Elmhurst responded. Trailing 43-37, Elmhurst ripped off a 9-0 run capped by a Bryant Ackerman three-pointer to grab a 46-43 lead with 8:30 left to play.  The two teams traded leads five times over the next five minutes with Elmhurst taking a 54-43 after a bucket from Jalen Loving.  A pair of free throws by Corey Wheeler gave Albion a one-point cushion with three minutes left to play. A Jordan Herron three-pointer with 2:13 left on the clock pushed Albion's lead up to four points.
 
The Bluejays cut the lead in half on a Will Nixon bucket with 1:14 left. After an Albion miss, the Bluejays turned the ball over with 38 secconds left. Herron hit a pair of free throws to extend Albion's lead to four points.  After an Elmhurst miss, Wheeler hit a pair of free throws and a lay-up in the final 25 seconds to help Albion pull away for the eight-point win.
 
Elmhurst finished the game shooting 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the floor after struggling in the opening half (9-of-33 for 27.3 percent). Albion shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the floor, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from three-point range. The Brittons won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Elmhurst 47-35. Albion also took advantage of Elmhurst fouls. The Bluejays were whistled for 23 fouls compared to 14 for Albion. The Brittons went to the free throw line 28 times, hitting 20 of them. Elmhurst hit six of its eight free throws.
 
Ackerman led Elmhurst with 11 points in the loss. Payonk came off the bench to score nine while Loving added seven. Erik Crittenden and Nixon finished with six points apiece.
 
Herron paced Albion with 19 points and seven rebounds while Wheeler finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Zach Hurth finished with eight pints and Travell Oakes came off the bench to total seven points and eight rebounds.
 
Elmhurst hosts the University of Dubuque next Saturday, December 13.