ELMHURST, Ill. - The No. 17 Elmhurst University men's basketball team held on late to down North Central College, 82-70, Saturday evening inside R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst (13-1, 5-0 CCIW) maintained their unbeaten record in conference action after a late surge from North Central (5-10, 3-3 CCIW) was stopped by the Bluejays.

Quinn Pemberton had his best game in a Bluejay uniform Saturday evening, scoring 20 points, while teammates John Ittounas and Ocean Johnson joined Pemberton with 20+ points scoring 23 and 21, respectivley. Jonathan Zapinski grabbed 12 points while also contributing three assists and three blocks, and Johnson led the Bluejays in boards with seven.

The Cardinals matched the Bluejays with four scorers in double digits, with Ethan Helwig's 22 points and four triples leading the way for the visitors.

Pemberton came out of the gates firing, scoring 17 of the Bluejays' first 21 points to give the hosts a 21-17 advantage with 10 to go in the half. Elmhurst maintained a five-point lead through the waning minutes, scoring a quick six points to end the half up nine against their conference rivals.

The lead grew to as many as 19 points in the first ten minutes of the second half, but a 21-4 scoring run from North Central allowed them to pull the score within two with less than five to go. The Bluejays hunkered down at the free-throw line, scoring six-straight from the charity line and adding a layup from Pemberton to grow their lead to 10. After the Cardinals shots stopped falling, Elmhurst was able to pull away with the 12-point league victory.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays turn their eyes to play host to Carroll University in a CCIW matchup beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, January 10.

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