ELMHURST, Ill. – Derek Dotlich and Jake Rhode combined for 41 points to lead the Elmhurst men's basketball team an 80-71 win over Augustana College at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst improved to 12-1 overall and 3-1 in the CCIW with the victory. The win marked Elmhurst's first victory over Augustana (8-5/2-2 CCIW) in four years.
 
After a back-and-forth first half, Elmhurst took control in the second. Leading by just one early in the second half, the Bluejays' ripped off a 13-3 run over three minutes to open up a 55-44 lead with 14 minutes remaining. The Vikings cut the deficit down to six, but Elmhurst responded with an 11-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 66-52 with just under 10 minutes remaining.
 
The Bluejays maintained a double-digit lead with less than six minutes remaining, but Augustana pulled to within six points (71-65) with 3:30 left on the clock. A layup from Dominic Genco and a pair of free throws from Rhode pushed Elmhurst's lead back to 10 with 1:35 left. Elmhurst hit 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the 80-71 win.
 
The first half featured 11 lead changes and five ties with neither team leading by more than five points. The Vikings led 30-25 with 5:45 left in the half, but Elmhurst used a 10-4 run to move in front with 3:18 left on the clock. The score was tied at 39-39 when Hunter Merritt drilled a three-pointer on the Bluejays' final possession of the half to give Elmhurst a 42-39 lead at the break.
 
Elmhurst shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the floor, including 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from downtown. The Vikings shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) form the field, including 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from three-point range. The Bluejays outscored the Vikings 32-18 in the paint. Elmhurst's reserves also outscored the Augustana bench 23-7.
 
Dotlich led the way for Elmhurst with 21 points, shooting 6-of-17 from the floor and knocking down three three-pointers. Rhode added 20 points and seven assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. Genco came off the bench to total 11 points and four assists. Lavon Thomas battled foul trouble to finish with eight points and six rebounds.
 
Pierson Wofford paced Augustana in the loss with 22 points and eight rebounds. Wofford shot 9-of-15 from the floor. Austin Elledge added 19 points and five assists while Lucas Simon scored 11 points.
 
Elmhurst hosts North Park University on Saturday, January 11, at 4:00 p.m.