ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Elmhurst men's basketball team hung with #16 Augustana for a large portion of the game before falling 87-76.
 
Elmhurst slipped to 6-12 overall and 2-7 in the CCIW with the loss while Augustana improved to 15-3 overall and 8-1 in league play.
 
The Bluejays fell behind by five points early in the half but battled back, pulling even at 27-27 with five minutes left in the half. An 11-2 run by Augustana put the Vikings up by nine with 1:37 remaining, but three-pointers from Marquis Carter and Derek Dotlich brought Elmhurst to within five points (40-35) at the half.
 
Augustana started strong in the second, building a 14-point cushion just 2:30 into the half. Elmhurst charged back, pulling to within six points on three occasions, but the Vikings slowly pulled away, pushing their lead back to double digits and coming away with the 11-point victory.
 
Elmhurst shot 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the floor in the loss. The Bluejays hit 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from three-point distance, including 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) in the opening half. Dotlich led Elmhurst with a game-high 22 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Jalen Loving added 17 points for Elmhurst while Caleb Mowry came off the bench to reach double figures with 13 points.
 
Augustana hit 31-of-63 attempts from the floor (49.2 percent), including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from three-point range. Five Vikings reached double figures in scoring with Chrishawn Orange and Pierson Wofford leading the way with 16 points apiece. Nolan Ebel and Jacob Johnston added 15 points apiece for the Vikings.
 
Elmhurst hosts North Park University on Saturday, January 28, at 4:00 p.m.