WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The No. 15 Elmhurst University men's basketball team survived a late run from the host Whitman College Blues to win, 102-92, in their opening game of the team's west coast trip.

Elmhurst (11-0, 3-0 CCIW) led by as much as 32 points with 11:58 left in the second, but a late run by the Blues (7-4, 1-1 NWC) tightened the Bluejay lead to just six with under a minute to go in the game. Despite the run, Whitman was unable to maintain their momentum, with key free throws from the Bluejays sealing the deal on their 11th win of the season.

Tagen Pearson led a trio of Bluejay scorers in double-digits, adding 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field, and a 4-for-6 mark from beyond the arc. Ocean Johnson nearly tallied a double-double with a 21 point, nine rebound effort, while John Ittounas grabbed 15 points in the game. Jonathan Zapinski also added four assists to go with nine points and seven rebounds on the night.

Whitman was led by four different players in double-digit scoring, with Ali Efe Isik leading the way with a 32 point, 11 rebound double-double.

The Blues led by as many as ten points halfway through the first period thanks to the hosts hot shooting and a cold start to the night from the field from Elmhurst. Elmhurst was able to crawl back into the game, hitting shots and ultimately knotting the game at 34 with a jumper from Pearson with five to go in the first half. From there, the Bluejays would end the first half on a 13-3 scoring run, taking a ten point lead into the break.

Elmhurst turned it on to begin the second-half, opening the half on a 28-6 scoring run in which the Bluejays shot 11-for-14 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from three to open their largest lead, 75-43, with 12:40 left in the game.

The Bluejays maintained a healthy lead throughout the next ten minutes of the game, leading to the Bluejays' reserves entering the game. However, a late 26-11 scoring run from Whitman tightened a once double-digit lead for the Bluejays down to just six with 53 seconds remaining. After a dunk from Johnson put Elmhurst up nine, the Bluejays would respond to each of Whitman's baskets with a pair of free throws, ultimately allowing Elmhurst to escape with a ten-point win.

UP NEXT

The 15th-ranked Bluejays will take on yet another west coast opponent this Saturday, Dec. 30, taking on Whitworth University in Spokane for an 8:00 p.m. CT tipoff. 

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