CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst University men's basketball team bounced back in a big way, defeating North Park 97-83 on Saturday afternoon on the road.
Tagen Pearson had a night to remember, scoring a career-high 40 points while surpassing the 1,000-career-point milestone. His eight three-pointers tied the Elmhurst single-game record, solidifying his place in Bluejay history.
With the win, Elmhurst improved to 11-12 on the season and 7-7 in CCIW play, clinching the Jays a spot in the CCIW Tournament.
Tagen Pearson dominated the game with his 40-point explosion, shooting an impressive 11-for-15 from the field and 8-for-12 from beyond the arc. He also contributed six rebounds and six assists. Dominic Trelenberg added 20 points and three assists, while Sebastian Blachut chipped in with 15 points and five rebounds. Vinnie Adjahoungbeta made his presence felt on the boards, leading the team with 12 rebounds while adding six points and four blocks.
Elmhurst shot 50% from the field (33-for-66) and an efficient 12-for-24 from three-point range (50%). The Bluejays converted 19 of 21 free throws (90.5%) and dominated the rebounding battle, securing 46 boards compared to North Park's 31. North Park struggled from deep, shooting 8-for-33 (24.2%), and despite making 35 total field goals, they could not match Elmhurst's efficiency. The Bluejays also recorded 15 assists and six blocks while limiting turnovers to 13.
Elmhurst came out firing, quickly setting the tone behind Pearson's hot shooting. He connected on three three-pointers in the opening minutes, helping the Bluejays establish an early lead. North Park fought back with strong play in the paint, but another deep three from Pearson pushed Elmhurst ahead 24-14 midway through the half. Trelenberg and Blachut added to the offensive burst, and the Bluejays closed the half strong to take a 50-41 lead into the locker room.
The Bluejays kept their momentum going in the second half, with Pearson continuing to torch the Vikings from long range. North Park made a push, cutting the deficit to five, but Pearson responded with another three to halt the run. Elmhurst's defense tightened in the final minutes, and clutch free throws from Pearson and Trelenberg sealed the victory.
UP NEXT
The Bluejays will take on Carthage College on Wednesday, Feb. 19th, with game time is set for 7:00pm in Kenosha, Wis.
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