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Bluejay Hoops Team Downed by Augustana
Box Score
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College men's basketball team, ranked 21st in the latest D3hoops.com poll, slipped to 4-4 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) following a 72-63 loss to 10th-ranked Augustana College.
Trailing by a dozen (57-45) with just under nine minutes to play, Elmhurst (14-5 overall) mounted a 16-6 run over the next six minutes to pull to within a basket with 2:47 to play. The Bluejays managed only one bucket for the remainder of the game and turned the ball over on their next three possessions, while Augustana (15-4, slowly began to pull away for the 72-63 win.
Elmhurst came out of the gate sluggish, shooting only 31.8 percent (7-of-22) in the first half. The Bluejays found themselves trailing 29-24 at the break.
The Bluejays finished the game shooting 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the floor and 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from beyond the arc. The Bluejays struggled from the foul line, hitting only 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) attempts.
Augustana shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the field and 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from downtown. Augustana converted 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) of its free throws.
Turnovers plagued the Bluejays as Elmhurst committed 17 turnovers leading to 20 Augustana points. The Vikings also outscored Elmhurst 36-26 in the paint.
Brent Ruch (Farmer City/Blue Ridge) and Matt Ryder scored 12 apiece to pace Elmhurst. Ruch added nine rebounds and five assists in the loss. Ryan Burks (Manito/Midwest Central) chipped in with 11 points while Robert Strzemp (Oak Park/Oak Park-River Forest) came off the bench to score 10.
Brett Wessels led Augustana with 22 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Alex Washington added 12 points and six assists while Dain Swetalla came off the bench to score 12. Justin Bertrand finished with nine points for the Vikings.
Elmhurst travels to Millikin University on Wednesday, February 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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