CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Elmhurst University men's basketball team fell to Randolph-Macon, 43-71, Thursday afternoon in their opening game of the Jay Bilas Classic.

The Bluejays fall to 4-6 overall on the season, while Randolph-Macon improved to 5-3 with the victory.

For Elmhurst, Sebastian Blachut led the scoring effort with 12 points, along with one rebound and two assists. Tagen Pearson was a bright spot, scoring 16 points and adding two rebounds and one assist, including several long-range shots that kept Elmhurst in contention. Dominic Trelenberg's recorded a double-digit rebounding effort with 10 boards to go along with six points and one assist.

For Randolph-Macon, Malcolm Hodges finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and one steal. Delani Hammonds also played a key role, adding 15 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Keishawn Pulley Jr. contributed across the board with five  points, five rebounds, and four assists, facilitating Randolph-Macon's offensive flow.

In the first half, Elmhurst struggled to find their rhythm offensively, shooting just 29.2% from the field. The Bluejays' scoring was largely carried by Blachut, who scored 6 points, including a well-executed layup and four made free throws. Tagen Pearson added a three-pointer to briefly narrow the gap, but turnovers hindered Elmhurst's momentum. Randolph-Macon's defensive efforts forced eight turnovers in the half, converting many of them into fast-break opportunities. By halftime, Randolph-Macon led 31-20.

Elmhurst's offensive struggles persisted, as they shot just 23.3% in the second half. While Pearson led the team with 16 points, including a couple of deep three-pointers, his efforts were not enough to close the gap. Randolph-Macon's defense was stifling, forcing six second-half turnovers and limiting Elmhurst's opportunities in transition. The Yellow Jackets' bench players also stepped up, contributing 19 points in the half. By the final buzzer, Randolph-Macon had outscored Elmhurst 40-23 in the second half, sealing a decisive victory.

UP NEXT

The Bluejays will take on No. 18 Christopher Newport in their final game of the Jay Bilas Classic tomorrow evening, Dec. 20, at 4:00 pm 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.