The two teams traded buckets for much of the first half as the game featured six ties and eight lead changes. Trailing 23-20 with 9:44 to play in the half, Elmhurst closed the half on a 27-11 run to grab a 47-34 lead at halftime.
The Bluejays shot 51.6 percent from the floor in the half (16-of-31) and 50 percent from 3-point range (4-of-8). Simpson shot 40 percent from the floor (12-of-30) and missed on all five of its 3-point attempts.
The Bluejays were able to build a 17-point advantage in the second half, but Simpson responded with a 9-0 run to bring the deficit to eight points at 68-60 with eight minutes to play. The Bluejays slowly built their lead back to 15 points and scored the 87-75 win.
After being outrebounded by three in the first half, Elmhurst owned the glass in the second half outrebounding the Storm 25-12. Elmhurst finished the game with 44-34 rebounding edge.
For the game, the Bluejays shot 47 percent from the floor (31-of-36) and 31.8 percent from downtown (7-of-22). The Bluejays shot 60 percent from the charity stripe (18-of-30). Simpson finished the game shooting 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor. The Storm did not hit a 3-pointer (0-for-8) and shot 69.7 percent from the free throw line (23-of-33).
Martin led the Bluejays with his 40-point performance. He finished 13-of-18 from the floor and 12-of-14 from the free throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds and led the team in steals (four). Chris Ihlenfeldt added 11 points in the win. Nick Michael added eight points. Andrew Mohney led the team on the glass with 10 rebounds. Brian Lee dished out eight assists.
Simpson was led by 22 points apiece from Jason Soppe and Ryan Hittenmiller. Jason Parkinson added 16 points in the loss. Sopped led the team in rebounds with seven.
Elmhurst will travel to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, who entered the D3hoops.com preseason poll ranked 20th, on Wednesday (November 30).