Elmhurst led 33-24 at the break after a pair of first half runs. With the score tied at 5-5, the Bluejays rattled off 13 straight points to take an 18-5 lead. Albion (2-6) answered right back with a run of their own, outscoring Elmhurst 15-3 to pull to within a point with 5:30 to play in the half.
After each team traded buckets, the Bluejays led 23-22 with 4:30 remaining. A pair of free throws from Ryan Burks along with a 3-pointer and a lay-up from Pat Bacon gave the Bluejays a 30-22 edge. After an Albion bucket from Zak Silas, Bacon knocked down sixth shot of the half to give Elmhurst a 32-24 lead. A Brian Lee free throw gave the Bluejays the 33-24 lead at the break. The Bluejays closed the half on a 9-2 run.
Bacon was red-hot in the first half scoring 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting (2-of-2 beyond the arc) to pace the Bluejays.
After Albion scored the opening bucket of the second half, the Bluejays blew the game open with an 18-0 run over the next seven minutes, building a 25-point advantage. The Bluejays built their lead to as many as 32 points and cruised the 76-46 win.
Elmhurst made the most of 25 Albion turnovers, scoring 37 points of the Britons’ miscues. After being outrebounded by nine early in the first half, the Bluejays owned the glass in the second half, finishing with a 35-25 rebounding edge.
For the game, the Bluejays shot 49.0 percent from the floor (25-of-51) and 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from downtown. Elmhurst converted 21-of-25 attempts (84.0 percent) from the foul line.
Albion finished the game shooting 39.6 percent from the field (19-of-48) and 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from beyond the arc.
Bacon led the way for the Bluejay with 17 points and four assists, earning all-tournament honors in the process. Nick Michael added 14 points and six boards while Burks finished with 12 points. Brent Ruch added seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Lee and Chris Childs each finished with seven points in the Bluejays’ win.
Albion was led by all-tournament pick Andrew Holms’ 14 points. Tom Jurasek came off the bench to score eight for the Britons.
Elmhurst will wrap up its non-conference schedule on December 30, when the Bluejays host Beloit College.