ELMHURST, Ill. – Jake Rhode scored 19 points in the second half and four Bluejays reached double figures in scoring, as the Elmhurst men's basketball team pulled away from #23 Wabash College for an 83-66 victory at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Elmhurst improved to 5-0 on the season with the victory and scored its second win over a top-25 opponent this season. Wabash slid to 4-2 with the loss.
 
The Bluejays led for much of the first half, opening up a 10-point lead at 21-11 with 8:30 left in the half. Wabash answered back with a 18-8 run over the next six minutes, pulling even at 29-29 following a three-pointers from Justin Hensley. Elmhurst moved back in front at 33-31 with less than a minute remaining, but a Kellen Schreiber bucket with 25 seconds left tied the game for Wabash at 33-33 at the half.
 
Wabash grabbed its first lead of the game to start the second half and the Little Giants held a 48-47 advantage with 15 minutes remaining before Elmhurst took control of the contest. The Bluejays exploded over the next 7:30, outscoring Wabash 27-7 to open up a commanding 19-point cushion. Jay Militello scored the Bluejays' first five points of the run to put Elmhurst in front 52-48. After being held off the scoreboard for the first 28 minutes, Rhode heated up scoring 15 of Elmhurst's next 20 points to blow the game open.
 
Wabash came no closer than 16 points for the final seven minutes as the Bluejays coasted to the victory.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest shooting 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the floor, including 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from downtown. The Bluejays outrebounded Wabash 46-36. Elmhurst also turned 12 Wabash turnovers into 12 points. The Bluejays also dominated in transition, outscoring Wabash 23-3 on the fast break.
 
Four Bluejays reached double figures in scoring to lead Elmhurst in the win. Rhode finished with a team-leading 19 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor. He added three rebounds and three assists in the victory. Militello added 15 points, hitting 6-of-11 shots from the floor, including 3-of-6 from downtown. Lavon Thomas added a double-double, totaling 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Derek Dotlich added 12 points for the Bluejays. Nick Perry chipped in with eight points and four assists while Ebrahim Jobe scored seven.
 
Wabash hit 26-of-67 shots from the floor (38.8 percent), including 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from three-point distance. Schreiber led the Little Giants with a game-high 20 points, shooting 8-of-17 from the floor. Jayden Edwards (11 points) and Tyler Watson (10 points) also reached double figures in scoring for Wabash. Elmhurst held Wabash's leading scorer Jack Davidson to only five points on 2-of-7 shooting.
 
Elmhurst opens CCIW play on Wednesday, December 4, by traveling to Millikin University.