ELMHURST, Ill.- The Elmhurst University men's basketball team stormed past Carroll 89-69 Wednesday evening inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

The Bluejays (11-5, 3-4 CCIW) rode a late first-half surge which continued into the second half to run away with a 20-point conference victory, scoring 50 second-half points. Six different Bluejays scored in double figures with Ocean Johnson's 17 points leading the team, also contributing eight rebounds. Wesley Hooker tallied 12 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field, with five coming from the free throw line, while Jonathan Zapinski and Kole Hornbuckle knocked down 11 points each. John Ittounas and Neshat Dalipi rounded out the Bluiejay scorers with 10 points a piece.

Carroll (4-11, 1-5 CCIW) was led by Justin Steinike's game-high 21 points and seven rebounds, while Kobe Simpson notched 11 points and Aaron Wafford scored 10 for the Pios.

Elmhurst was efficient off the bench on the evening, gaining 32 points to Carroll's 19, and dominated the paint with 40 points in the paint compared to just 16 for the Pios. 

It was all Carroll at the start, with the Pios jumping out to an 11-3 lead five minutes into the game. Carroll continued to extend their lead after a Wafford trey moved the deficit to ten for the Bluejays, but a 9-point burst brought Elmhurst back within four.

A pair of free throws from Dalipi tightened the deficit to two points with four to go in the first period before a tough layup from Myles Thomas knotted the game at 31. Following a missed jumper on the other end, Ittounas knocked down a three to give thje Bluejays their first lead, while Elmhurst ended the half on an 8-3 run to head into halftime with a five-point lead.

Out of the break, the Pios fought back to keep the score within three with 14 to go. A three-pointer from Johnson began a dominant 32-10 run from the Bluejays to blow open a 25-point lead with 3:20 to go. Elmhurst finished the final 14 minutes of the game outscoring Carroll 38-21 to walk away with their third conference victory of the season.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays will have the weekend off and return to action on the road next Wednesday, Jan. 18 in Rock Island, Ill. to take on Augustana College (IL) for a 7:00 p.m. CT tipoff. 

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