CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Elmhurst University men's basketball team dropped their opening matchup of the Jay Bilas Classic to No. 7 Christopher Newport 82-74 Tuesday evening at Curry Arena.

Despite storming back from a 16-point deficit to cut the Captain lead to four, the Bluejays (7-4, 1-3 CCIW) were unable to complete the comeback and secure a ranked victory. Elmhurst was led by Jonathan Zapinski's double-double (16 points, 17 rebounds), while John Ittounas continued his impressive scoring run, netting 19 points with ten of them coming from the free throw line. Tagen Pearson also tallied 11 points and four assists in the contest for the Bluejays.

Christopher Newport (10-2, 0-0 CAC) was led by Jahn Hines' 19 points and eight rebounds, while Ty Henderson added 15 points for the Captains. The Captains scored 27 points off of 22 Bluejay turnovers, while the Bluejays shot just 9-for-21 in the first half and 22-for-47 in the game. 

The Bluejays grabbed the lead early off of two Ittounas free throws, but the Captains quickly retook the lead by starting the game 22-7 run to lead at the halfway point of the first half. Elmhurst responded with a run of their own, but the Captains continued to pour it on by extending their lead to 13 heading into the intermission.

Christopher Newport continued their steady scoring to begin the second half, opening a 16-point lead with 10 minutes to go. However, a scoreless drought of nearly six minutes and a 15-3 Bluejay run cut the deficit to four with 4:42 left in the contest. Though the Bluejays continued to keep the pressure on the Captains, Christopher Newport kept responding to the Bluejays scoring, holding a steady ten-point lead throughout the final five minutes of the game and securing the eight point victory.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays will wrap up the inaugural Jay Bilas Classic tomorrow evening, Dec. 21, with a 5:00 p.m. CT matchup with the University of Lynchburg.

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