ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University men's basketball team pulled away from Carthage College over the final six minutes of action to score an 88-74 victory over the Firebirds at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst (15-5/7-4 CCIW) and Carthage (9-11/2-9 CCIW) slugged it out for much of the contest as the lead changed hands 10 times. The score was even at 59-all with six minutes left to play before Elmhurst pulled away with a 29-15 run to earn the victory.
 
With the score even, Jonathan Zapinski hit back-to-back lay-ups to put the Bluejays up by four with 5:30 left to play. Jake Rhode ignited the Bluejays' attack over the final four minutes, scoring 13 of his 21 points over the final four minutes of action. Rhode drilled three 3-pointers and Jay Militello also connected from downtown as the Bluejays shot 4-of-4 from downtown in the final four minutes of play.
 
Elmhurst, ranked 21st in the latest D3hoops.com poll, opened up an early seven-point cushion at the start of the contest, only to see Carthage rip off a 22-9 run to take a six-point lead midway through the opening half. Trailing by six with 7:30 left in the half, Elmhurst closed the half on a 17-3 run to open up a 43-35 lead at the break.
 
Elmhurst led for much of the second half, opening up a nine-point cushion with 15 minutes left before Carthage answered back with an 11-0 run to move in front at 54-52. The Firebirds led 62-61 with eight minutes to play and tied the score at 64-all with six minutes to play to set-up the dramatic finish.
 
Rhode and Wes Hooker paced Elmhurst with 21 points in the win. Rhode shot 6-of-11 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. He added four steals in the win. Hooker shot 7-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from 3-point distance while pulling down five rebounds. Lavon Thomas chipped in with 14 points and five assists despite being in foul trouble in the second half. Militello finished with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds while Zapinski and Bryce Drews totaled six points apiece. Zapinski came off the bench to add seven rebounds for Elmhurst.

Elmhurst shot 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the floor in the win. The Bluejays hit 11-of-25 attempts from 3-point range (44.0 percent). Elmhurst converted 20 Carthage turnovers into 23 points.
 
Kyle Kostes came off the bench to spark Carthage, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds. AJ Johnson added 15 points and Crishawn Cook scored 14 for Carthage. The Firebirds shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor, including 37.5 percent (13-of-19) from downtown.
 
Elmhurst travels to Carroll University on Wednesday, February 2.