ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The Elmhurst University men's basketball used a late second-half surge to down Augustana College, 73-69, Wednesday evening on the road.

In a back-and-forth battle that went down to the wire, Elmhurst (16-3, 8-2 CCIW) was able to come away with the victory with the Bluejays scoring 12 of the games final 17 points. The lead changed hands six times throughout the intense contest. 

John Ittounas was the key to Elmhurst's offense, scorching the nets with 27 points and draining five crucial three-pointers, adding six rebounds. Ocean Johnson also passed the 20-point threshold, contributing 20 points, while Quinn Pemberton scored 11 points and five assists with six points coming in the final two minutes of the game.

For Augustana (6-13, 3-7 CCIW), four Vikings scored in double-digits led by 16 points from Evan Ambrose.

Both teams struggled from behind the arc early on, but Augustana found their rhythm in the first half, shooting 62.5% from three-point land, with the game standing even at 37 heading into halftime. 

Elmhurst adjusted their defense in the second half, holding the Vikings to just 33.3% from deep and clawing their way back into the game. After being down as much as nine with 9:24 left, Elmhurst found their rhythm, and a Johnson jumper gave Elmhurst a one-point advantage with less than five to go. Augustana would answer back, regaining the lead and holding a four-point advantage with 2:29 to go.

After a pair of Zapinski free throws brought the Bluejays within two, Pemberton knocked down a trey to put Elmhurst up one, and a defensive stop followed by a jumper from the graduate student gave Elmhurst a three-point lead with less than a minute to go. The Bluejay defense held strong, and the offense hit their free throws to secure the four-point road victory.

UP NEXT

Elmhurst will remain on the road for a key road matchup at Carthage College this Saturday, Jan. 27, with tipoff set for 4:15 p.m.

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