SALEM, Ore. – Ryan Patton knocked down a game-winning three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to help propel the Elmhurst men's basketball team to an 82-80 road win at Willamette University.
 
Elmhurst (8-3) led by as many as 13 points in the opening half and by 10 points in the second half, but the Bluejays had to rally from a late-deficit. A Willamette three-pointer from Casey Thornton with 23 seconds remaining left Elmhurst trailing by two points. Patton delivered the game-winning blow with eight seconds left, splashing home his third three of the game to put Elmhurst in front by one.
 
Deterk Dotlich came away with a steal and hit a pair of free throws to pad the Bluejays' lead up to 82-79 with three seconds left. Elmhurst fouled Trent Callan with three seconds remaining and Callan split a pair of free throws. Jeremy Ireland grabbed the rebound off the missed free throw and was fouled, securing the victory for Elmhurst in the process.
 
Elmhurst built a 13-point cushion midway through the opening half, but Willamette closed the final four minutes of the half on a 14-3 run to close the gap to just two points (43-41) at the half. Elmhurst built a 10-point lead with 12:41 left in the contest and the Bluejays were up by nine (73-64) with 5:45 remaining, but Willamette used a 15-4 run over the next five minutes, capped by the three-pointer from Thornton to go up by two and set up the dramatic finish.
 
Elmhurst shot 55.4 percent from the field (31-of-56) in the win, including 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from downtown. The Bluejays scored over half their points in the paint, outscoring the Bearcats 44-28 in the lane. All five starters reached double figures in scoring for Elmhurst. Patton, Dotlich and Lavon Thomas poured in 15 points apiece in the victory. Ireland added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while Jake Rhode finished with 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
 
Willamette shot 51.8 percent from the floor (29-of-56) in the loss, including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from long distance. Callan led the Bearcats and all scorers with a game-high 21 points. Brendan McCullough added 20 points while Thornton came off the bench to score 12.
 
Elmhurst hosts Edgewood College on Wednesday, January 3.