PASADENA, Calif. - Four players reached double figures in scoring to lead the 16th-ranked Elmhurst men's basketball team to an 87-78 road win over Caltech.
Elmhurst wrapped up it's two-game swing to California with a 2-0 record, improving to 8-1 overall.
The Bluejays fell behind early, trailing 16-8 just 6:30 into the contest. The Bluejays responded with a 27-8 run over the next seven minutes to open up a 35-24 lead with 6:40 left in the opening half.
Lavon Thomas and
Wesley Hooker combined for 17 points in the Bluejays' run.
Caltech roared back by scoring the next 10 points, cutting Elmhurst's lead down to one before pulling even at 38-38 with just under two minutes remaining. The Bluejays scored the final six points of the half to carry a 44-38 lead into halftime.
Caltech pulled to within two points early in the second half, but Elmhurst responded by opening up a 10-point cushion (59-49) with 13 minutes remaining. The Bluejays pushed their lead up to 15 points and Caltech came no closer than seven points for the remainder of the contest at Elmhurst pulled away for the nine-point win.
Elmhurst shot 39.7 percent (29-of-73) from the floor, including 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from three-point range. The Bluejays were sharp from the foul line, hitting 18-of-22 attempts. Elmhurst also won the rebounding battle, finishing +10 (46-36) on the glass.
Jake Rhode,
Derek Dotlich and Thomas finished with 19 points apiece to pace the Bluejays. Thomas finished with a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds while Dotlich collected eight. Rhode finished with a game-high six assists in the win. Hooker came off the bench to score 10 points while
Jay Militello finished with eight points and six boards.
Caltech shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) from the field, including 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from three-point range. Pavlos Stavrinides led Caltech with a game-high 20 points. He added nine rebounds in the loss. Marcus Gess added 19 points while Alec Andrews scored 14.
Elmhurst returns home to host Illinois College on Sunday, December 22.
