CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst University men's basketball team suffered its first CCIW loss of the season, dropping a 69-67 contest at North Park University.

Elmhurst (8-2/2-1 CCIW) ranked seventh in the latest D3hoops.com poll, trailed by six midway through the first half before moving in front of the Vikings late in the half. Leading by a point with three minutes remaining, Elmhurst closed the half on a 10-0 run fueled by five points each from Wesley Hooker and Jake Rhode. The Bluejays led 34-23 at the half. 

North Park (5-2/2-0 CCIW) started quickly in the second half, scoring the first 10 points to cut Elmhurst's lead down to one. The Bluejays pushed their lead back to seven points with eight minutes remaining, but North Park rattled off a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to move in front by three. Elmhurst quickly pulled even on a three-point play from Rhode to knot the score at 60-60 with 4:30 remaining. 

The two teams traded buckets for the next 90 seconds keeping the score even at 66-66 with three minutes left. After both teams went cold for the next two minutes, North Park moved in front on a Michael Osborne layup with 20 seconds left to play. Elmhurst had a pair of chances on its next possession, but Rhode's jumper from the foul line was off the mark and a three-point attempt rimmed off with seven seconds left. 

North Park split a pair of free throws to move in front 69-66. The Vikings fouled Rhode before Elmhurst could attempt a game-tying three. Rhode hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but North Park was able to grab the rebound to secure the victory. 

Elmhurst struggled in the second half, shooting only 25.9 percent (7-of-27) from the floor to finish the contest shooting 37.7 percent (23-of-61). Elmhurst finished 6-of-18 from downtown. 

Rhode led the Bluejays and all scorers with 21 points. Dominic Genco added 12 points while Ocean Johnson scored 11 and Wesley Hooker added nine. 

North Park shot 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the floor and just 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from downtown, but the VIkings outscored Elmhurst 42-28 in the paint and outrebounded the Bluejays 48-40. Jalen Boyd led the Vikings with 17 points while Jordan Boyd totaled a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Osborne finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while Izaiah Sanders tallied 11 points before fouling out.

Elmhurst hosts Carroll University next Saturday, (December 18).