ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University men's basketball team led for over 32 minutes, but stumbled in the closing moments, falling 72-70 to Carroll University in the Bluejays' season-opening contest.
 
Elmhurst (0-1) and Carroll (2-2) traded buckets and leads for the first five minutes before the Bluejays rattled off a 12-3 run to open up a 24-16 lead midway through the opening half. Carroll answered back, pulling even at 30-30 with 3:30 remaining, but Elmhurst closed the half on a 12-2 run, aided by four three-pointers. The Bluejays led 42-32 at the half.
 
Elmhurst came out cold in the second half as the squad was held to without a field goal for the first 6:30 of play, allowing Carroll to close to within a point at 46-45. The Pioneers pulled even at 53-53 with 10:32 remaining, but Elmhurst slowly reestablished a lead, building a six-point cushion (68-62) with just over three minutes remaining. Buckets from Tarren Hall and Justin Steinke pulled the Pioneers to within one and a three-pointer from Ryan Mendoza gave Carroll a 69-68 lead with 1:37 left. Elmhurst answered back quickly as Jay Militello hit a floater in the lane with just over a minute remaining to put the Bluejays back in front at 70-69.
 
Elmhurst's lead was short lived as Mendoza hit a layup in with 43 seconds left to put Carroll back up by one. After an Elmhurst turnover, Mendoza split two free throws giving Elmhurst the ball back with just over six seconds left. Trailing by two, Lavon Thomas' game-tying attempt came up short just before the buzzer as Carroll came away with the 72-70 win.
 
Elmhurst finished the contest shooting 40.0 percent (24-of-60) from the floor, but hit just 28.6 percent (8-of-28) in the second half. After connecting on 7-of-16 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half (43.8 percent), the Bluejays shot just 1-of-12 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes, finishing the contest shooting 28.6 percent (8-of-28) overall.
 
Three players reached double figures in scoring to lead a balanced Elmhurst attack. Wesley Hooker paced the Bluejays with 11 points and six rebounds while Jonathan Zapinski and Militello added 10 points apiece. Dominic Genco added nine points while Bryce Drews scored eight. Hunter Merritt and Thomas finished with seven points apiece. Thomas led Elmhurst on the glass with rebounds. The Bluejays outrebounded Carroll 44-26 on the night.
 
Carroll finished the contest shooting 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field, including 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from three-point range. Steinke led Carroll, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double while totaling 17 points and nine rebounds. Josh Hudgens finished with 12 points for the Pioneers. Mendoza added 11 points while Carter Sturgeon scored 10.
 
Elmhurst travels to Carroll on Saturday, February 13, for a 2:00 p.m. contest.