NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Elmhurst men's basketball team won its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament in school history by defeating Illinois Wesleyan University 78-72 at North Central College.

Elmhurst secured the CCIW's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the win and improved to 23-5 overall, setting a new single-season school record for victories.
 
The first half was tightly contested as the half featured four lead changes with neither team leading by more than seven points. The Titans (19-9) led by three on multiple occasions early in the contest before Elmhurst's offense began clicking. Trailing 14-11, the Bluejays ripped off a 12-2 run to open up a 23-16 lead following a Lavon Thomas three-pointer. The Titans answered back with a 10-2 run to grab a 26-25 lead with 5:45 left. The Bluejays responded with a 5-0 run to move back in front at 30-26. The Titans used an 8-2 run to move in front 34-32, but a bucket from Dominic Genco and a layup from Lavon Thomas at the buzzer, gave Elmhurst a 36-34 lead at the half. Illinois We
 
The Titans moved in front 41-40 at the start of the second half. The score was tied at 44-all when Elmhurst rattled off an 8-0 run to grab a 54-46 lead. The Bluejays led by eight at 59-51 with nine minutes left when the Titans stormed back. The Titans used a 14-5 run to grab a 65-64 lead with under five minutes left on the clock. Jake Rhode put Elmhurst back in front at 66-65 with a bucket on the ensuing Elmhurst possession. Elmhurst scored the next five points, lengthening their lead to 71-65 after a three-pointer from Wesley Hooker. Hooker added a free throw on the next possess to extend the Bluejays' run to 8-0 and put the squad up 72-65 with just over two minutes remaining.
 
The Titans hit a putback with under two minutes remaining, but back-to-back turnovers gave IWU the ball back with 1:17 left and trailing by five points. A pair of IWU free throws brought the Titans within three with 1:05 left. Jake Rhode found a cutting Jay Militello for a layup with 45 seconds left to push Elmhurst's lead back to five at 74-69. Following a Titans' miss, Rhode hit a pair of free throws with 34.5 seconds remaining to give Elmhurst a 76-69 lead. The Titans hit a bucket, but Elmhurst was able to run 10 seconds off the clock before IWU could foul. The Bluejays sealed the win by hitting pair of free throws in the closing seconds.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest shooting 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the floor, including 25.0 percent (6-of-24) from downtown. The Bluejays capitalized on offensive rebounds and IWU turnovers. Elmhurst scored 15 points off of 11 IWU turnovers and scored 15 second chance points off of 12 offensive rebounds.
 
Rhode led the way with 22 points and three steals. Lavon Thomas added 17 points and team-leading eight rebounds. Militello totaled 13 points and six rebounds.
 
IWU was led by Doug Wallen's 21 points and five rebounds. Matthew Leritz added a double-double of 17 points and 3 rebounds while Cory Noe finished with 16 points.
 
The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced live on NCAA.com on Monday, March 2, at 11:30 a.m.