OLIVET, Mich. – The Elmhurst men's basketball team upped its record to 3-1 on the season with a 71-61 road victory over Olivet College.
 
Four players reached double figures in scoring as the Bluejays led for over 32 minutes of action and pulled away late for the victory.
 
The Bluejays shot 50.0 percent from the field in the opening half (16-of-32), leading by as many as eight points before carrying a 42-39 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
Olivet (2-3) battled back in the second half, taking a three-point lead with 16:48 left. The Comets led by as many as five points with 15 minutes to go, before Elmhurst answered back, surging in front by five (56-51) with 10 minutes remaining following a Derek Dotlich three-pointer. A 6-0 run from the Comets put Olivet back in front by a point with eight minutes remaining.

A Lance Gardner layup gave Elmhurst the lead for good with 7:51 left on the clock. Olivet stayed close, trailing by just a point with 4:25 left. Elmhurst closed the game on a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach.

The Bluejays finished the contest shooting 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the floor, including 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from three-point distance. The Bluejays won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Comets 44-34.
 
Jake Rhode flirted with a triple double in the victory, finishing with 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Gardner poured in a team-high 18 points to go with five rebounds while Ryan Patton chipped in with 16 points. Jeremy Ireland recorded a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Payton Sampson added nine points while Derek Dotlich totaled eight points.
 
Olivet shot 41.2 percent (26-of-68) from the field, but just 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from three-point distance. Jalen Adams carried the Comets with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds. Diangelo Carlton added 16 points for Olivet.
 
Elmhurst opens CCIW play by hosting Carroll University on Saturday, December 2.