ELMHURST, Ill. - The No. 21 Elmhurst University men's basketball team used a stifling defensive performance to down the 22nd-ranked Carthage College Firebirds, 74-59, Saturday evening inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst (8-0, 3-0 CCIW) remained as the lone unbeaten team in conference action this season thanks to a huge first-half in which the Bluejays led by 17 at the break. Carthage (7-2, 2-1 CCIW) found more shooting success in the second half, but was unable to mount a comeback against the Bluejays. The 8-0 start is the best start in program history for Elmhurst.

Ocean Johnson led Elmhurst with a game-high 26 points on 8-for-18 shooting, including a 4-for-8 mark from beyond the arc, also adding eight rebounds. John Ittounas contributed 19 points, while Tagen Pearson notched 14 points and three triples in the game. Jonathan Zapinski led Elmhurst with nine rebounds, while also leading the team with eight assists. 

As a team, Elmhurst held Carthage to just 13-percent (2-13) from behind the three-point line, keeping the Firebirds' lineup at bay throughout the matchup. The Firebirds saw three players enter double-digit scoring efforts, with Ryan Johnson leading the way with 20 points and Julian Campbell recording a 13 point, 12 rebound double-double.

The Firebirds led early, opening a 7-2 advantage three minutes into the game, but the Bluejays began to heat up from the three-point line, with Pearson and Johnson combining to hit a trio of threes to take an 11-9 lead, one that the team would never give up. The game remained close through the opening ten minutes, but a Bluejay scoring run of 14-4 in the final five minutes of the half put Elmhurst up, 40-23, heading into the break.

Elmhurst maintained a steady double-digit lead throughout the second period, and kept the Firebirds at bay, ending with a 15-point ranked victory in favor of the hosts.

UP NEXT

Elmhurst is back in action next Sunday, Dec. 17, hosting Lawrence in the night cap of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team, with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m. CT.

FOLLOW THE BLUEJAYS

Be sure to keep up with all Elmhurst University Athletics content by following the Bluejays on Twitter (@elmhurstbluejay), Facebook (Elmhurst University Athletics) and Instagram (@elmhurstbluejays), and tune in to elmhurstbluejays.com for the latest news and information.