NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Jake Rhode scored a team-leading 18 points but it wasn't enough as the Elmhurst men's basketball team suffered an 87-74 road loss at North Central College.
 
Elmhurst slid to 11-8 overall and 4-6 in the CCIW while North Central upped its record to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in league play.
 
Elmhurst and North Central traded buckets for the first seven minutes before North Central took control of the contest. Leading by one with six minutes gone, the Cardinals used an 18-10 run over the next six minutes to open up a 28-19 lead with just under eight minutes left in the half. The Cardinals extended their lead to 13 and carried a 40-30 lead into halftime.
 
The Bluejays managed to trim the deficit down to seven points early in the second half, but North Central answered back with a 17-6 run to establish an 18-point lead, their largest of the game. Elmhurst responded with a 19-9 run over the next 5:30 to cut the lead in half. Elmhurst trailed by nine with 6:45 remaining but could come no closer as the Cardinals pulled away for the 13-point win.
 
Elmhurst shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the floor, including 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from three-point distance. Rhode led Elmhurst with a team-best 18 points. He added five rebounds and three assists in the loss. Derek Dotlich came off the bench to finish with 14 points and seven rebounds. Justin Fox added nine points while Ryan Patton contributed seven.
 
North Central shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the floor, including 60.0 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. Erwin Henry led the Cardinals with 18 points while Connor Rairdon added a double-double with 15 points and assists. Alex Sorenson added 17 points and 12 rebounds while Matt Cappelletti scored 14.
 
Elmhurst travels to Carroll University on Wednesday, January 31.