ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst University men's basketball led for over 34 minutes of action and toppled second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University 74-66 at R.A. Faganel Hall.

Elmhurst, ranked 19th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, improved to 13-5 overall ad 5-4 in the CCIW while handing the Titans just their third loss of the season (15-3/8-2 CCIW).

Illinois Wesleyan grabbed a 7-2 lead out of the gate, but it would prove to be the Titan's largest lead of the night. Elmhurst pulled in front at 9-7 on a Wesley Hooker 3-pointer. After the Titans tied the game on a Cory Noe bucket, the Bluejays rattled off six straight points to open up a 15-9 lead with 12:45 left in the half. Elmhurst would never trail for the remainder of the game. The Bluejays pushed their lead up to 10 points (29-19) with five minutes remaining and led 36-27 at the half. Both teams struggled from the outside in the opening half as the two teams combined to shoot 3-of-20 from 3-point range.

The Bluejays pushed their lead to 11 at the start of the second, but seven straight points brought the Titans back to within four. Illinois Wesleyan cut the Bluejays' lead down to two (47-45) with 12:35 left. Elmhurst ran the lead back to nine, but the Titans answered back again, pulling to within two with seven minutes left.

Elmhurst used a 12-2 run over the next 4:30 to open up a 68-56 lead after Jake Rhode connected on a 3-pointer from the wing. Illinois Wesleyan would not go away as the Titans scored eight straight points, including six from the foul line, to bring Elmhurst's lead down to four with less than a minute to play. Elmhurst was able to put the game away from the foul line, hitting all six of its free throws in the final minute. 

Elmhurst outshot the Titans 42.6 percent (26-of-61) to 40.0 percent (26-of-65). The Bluejays hit 5-of-22 attempts from 3-point range while the Titans hit just 4-of-20 from long distance. Elmhurst hit 17-of-21 attempts from the foul line. 

Five Bluejays reached double figures in scoring to lead a balanced attack. Hooker led the way with 13 points while Lavon Thomas chipped in with 12 points. Jay Militello finished with a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Rhode added 11 points and eight rebounds while Jonathan Zapinski scored 10 points for Elmhurst.

IWU was led by Noe's 15 points and five rebounds. Peter Lambesis scored 14 while Lucas Heflen came off the bench to score 12. Matthew Leritz finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Titans.

Elmhurst hosts North Park University on Saturday, January 29.