By Scott DeWeerd, '15

The Albion College men's basketball team improved to 3-2 Saturday night in a 64-56 tooth-and-nail victory over previously undefeated Elmhurst College.

"I'm really proud of our guys, "Head Coach Jody May said after the win. "Elmhurst is a very good team. We've had some trouble recently but tonight we were able to get over the hump."

After trading runs with Elmhurst throughout the first 35 minutes, the Britons found themselves trailing 54-53 with just more than three minutes remaining. After taking an elbow to the head, freshman Corey Wheeler stepped up to the charity stripe for a pair of important free throws. Wheeler calmly sank both shots spurring a 9-2 run for the Britons to seal the victory.

Wheeler, making his first career start for Albion, ended the game with 17 points and nine rebounds.

"He's an exciting, complete player," May said about Wheeler. "He can really score but he does so much more than that. He played great perimeter defense tonight."

The Bluejays came into the game shooting 46 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the three point line. But the suffocating Briton defense held Elmhurst to just 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from long range while recording seven blocks.

"They're normally a very good three-point shooting team but we limited their threes," Jody said. "The offense they run requires you to bring help in the lane," he added, "but we positioned ourselves well and shut down the driving and passing lanes."

Jordan Herron, Travell Oakes, and Carter Elliott set the physical tone of the game and dominated the glass once again as the Britons reeled in 46 rebounds to Elmhurst's 34. Despite limited time due to foul trouble, Herron led the team with 19 points in addition to seven rebounds. Elliott added six points and seven rebounds, but his presence was felt most on the defensive end where he recorded four blocks and altered a dozen shots. Oakes finished the game with seven points and eight rebounds, four of them offensive. 

"It was a physical game," said May. "Elmhurst is known for playing tough, hard-nosed basketball. That's our style, too. We try to be aggressive."

The Britons buckle down for final exam week before heading to Kenyon College for a Friday night showdown. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.