ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst University men's basketball team took control early and cruised to a 96-66 victory over North Park Wednesday evening inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst (17-4, 9-3 CCIW) rode a hot shooting streak in the first half that included a scorching 11-for-17 from three-point range to easily down the Vikings (10-11, 5-7 CCIW). The Bluejays also passed the ball around efficiently, collecting 19 assists on 32 made baskets.

Five Bluejays ascended to double-digit points in the contest, led by 17 each from Quinn Pemberton and Ocean Johnson who shot a combined 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. John Ittounas notched 14 points and seven assists, while Dominic Trelenberg and Matt Woloch each added 11 points to the Elmhurst score. Jonathan Zapinski also pulled in a game-high nine rebounds while adding eight points, three blocks, and five assists.

North Park had just one scorer in double figures, with Shamar Pumphrey tallying 15 for the Vikings.

Elmhurst connected on five of their first six shots, jumping to an early 16-6 lead, and extended the lead to as much as 28 in the opening half, totaling 11 made threes to lead 60-32 at the halftime break, their largest lead after an opening period all season. From there, the Vikings never got closer than 26 the rest of the way, with Elmhurst continuing to pile it on and walking away with a 30-point home win.

With the Jays' win, Elmhurst moves back into solo second place in the CCIW with four games remaining in the regular season.

UP NEXT

Elmhurst heads to Naperville this Saturday, Feb. 3, taking on the North Central College Cardinals in a rivalry matchup set for a 4:15 p.m. tipoff.

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