Elmhurst University Athletics

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Elmhurst men's basketball team won its fifth consecutive contest by scoring a 76-64 road win at the University of Dubuque.

Elmhurst, ranked seventh in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, improved to 8-1 on the season with the victory.

Elmhurst never trailed in the contest as the Bluejays scored the game's first four points behind buckets from Will Nixon and Kyle Wuest. Dubuque (4-4) came no closer than a one-point deficit as Elmhurst used an early 10-1 run to build a double-digit lead just over seven minutes into the game. Dubuque answered back, rattling off seven straight points to pull to within three points, but an 13-3 run by Elmhurst gave the Bluejays a 30-17 lead with 5:28 left. Erik Crittenden scored six points in the run to spark the Bluejays.

Elmhurst led 39-30 at the half and never let Dubuque come closer than a five-point deficit for the duration of the contest. Leading 54-49, Elmhurst scored eight straight points behind a three-pointer from Wuest and a three-pointer and pair of free throws from Bryant Ackerman. The run gave Elmhurst a 13-point cushion with 6:40 left. The Bluejays led by as many as 17 points before holding on for the 12-point victory.

The Bluejays shot 41.5 percent from the floor, hitting 27-of-65 shots, including 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bluejays took good care of the ball, committing a season-low four turnovers and forcing Dubuque into 11 turnovers. Elmhurst turned the Dubuque mistakes into 14 points. 

Wuest led Elmhurst and all scorers with a game-high 19 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor. Ackerman poured in 16 points, hitting on 5-of-10 shots and pulling down a team-best seven rebounds. Crittenden also reached double figures in scoring, dumping in 14 points and collecting six boards. Eric Leonard added nine points and Peyton Wyatt scored six for the Bluejays.

Dubuque finished the contest shooting 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor and 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from downtown. Andre Norris paced the Spartans in the loss, finishing with a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds. Kain Arthofer added 14 points while Alex Vogel finished with 10.

Elmhurst travels to Buena Vista University next Saturday, December 19.