KENOSHA, Wis. – The Elmhurst University men's basketball team overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to close out its 2021-22 regular season with a 79-66 road win at Carthage College.
Elmhurst (19-6/11-5 CCIW), ranked 15th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, raced out to a double-digit lead before Carthage surged back late in the first half. The Bluejays led by 12 at 27-15, but Carthage (9-16/2-14 CCIW) stormed back, closing the half with a 23-4 run as the Bluejays managed just one field goal in the final six minutes of the opening half. Carthage led 38-31 at the break.
The Firebirds scored the opening bucket of the second half to take a 40-31 lead, but Elmhurst took over immediately after. The Bluejays scored the next nine points to tie the game at 40-40. Carthage moved back in front with a bucket with 17:25 left, but it would be the last time the Firebirds would lead. Elmhurst ripped off a 16-6 run to open up an eight-point cushion with 12:50 remaining. The Bluejays pulled away down the stretch, leading by as many as 17 points before holding on for the 13-point victory.
Jake Rhode led the Bluejays in the victory, finishing with a game-high 26 points. Rhode shot 5-of-8 from the floor and was 13-of-13 from the foul line. He also added four assists, four rebounds and four steals in the win.
Jay Militello added 17 points and five rebounds for Elmhurst.
Lavon Thomas and
Wesley Hooker totaled 12 points apiece in the victory. Hooker finished with a double-double, adding a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with four assists. Thomas pulled down seven rebounds in the victory.
Elmhurst shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) form the floor, including 32.0 percent (8-of-25) from beyond the arc. Elmhurst was solid from the foul line, hitting 23-of-28 attempts (82.1 percent). The Bluejays outrebounded Carthage 47-35 in the win.
Fillip Bulatovic led Carthage in the loss, finishing with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kyle Kostes came off the bench to score 12 while Crishawn Cook added eight points for the Firebirds.
Elmhurst will host Augustana College in the opening round of the CCIW Tournament on Tuesday, February 22. The Bluejays are seeded third and will take on sixth-seeded Augustana at R.A. Faganel Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
