ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University men's basketball team upped its record to 11-2 on the season after toppling Lake Forest College 93-74 at R.A. Faganel Hall in the Bluejays' final non-conference game of the season.
 
Elmhurst, ranked 14th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, led for 38:26 of the contest. Leads changed hands eight times at the start of the first half before the Bluejays took control. Trailing 12-11, the Bluejays rattled off nine straight points to take a 20-12 lead. An 11-0 Elmhurst run late in the half helped the Bluejays open up a commanding 48-29 lead at the half.
 
The Bluejays continued to pull away in the second half, leading by as many as 29 points while cruising to the 19-point victory.
 
Elmhurst shot 52.1 percent (38-of-73) from the field, including 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from 3-point range. Hunter Merritt came of the bench to score a career-high 18 points, connecting on six three-pointers in the victory. Dominic Genco added 18 points while Jonathan Zapinski finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Wesley Hooker added 11 points while Jay Militello scored nine points. Kole Hornbuckle came off the bench to add eight for the Bluejays.
 
Lake Forest (3-9) shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the floor in the loss. All five starters reached double figures in scoring with Rocco Ronzio leading the way with 13 points. Johnny Roeser added 11 points and four assists while Ethan Augusto, Frank Siegien and Alex Knight all scored 10 points apiece.
 
Elmhurst resumes CCIW play by traveling to Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday, January 5.