Millikin grabbed the lead just 6:35 into the game and never let go, withstanding several charges from the Bluejays.
Elmhurst trailed at the break 37-30 after struggling from the floor, shooting only 37.5 percent (9-of-24). Millikin shot 46.9 percent from the floor (15-of-32) and had a 23-13 advantage on the glass.
The Bluejays made a quick run in the second half, pulling to within two points at 44-42 just 3:30 into the half. Elmhurst had a chance to tie the score but turned the ball over twice and missed a jumper. Millikin responded with a 14-5 run to lead by 11 with 10 minutes to play.
The Bluejays made one last run as Millikin went without a bucket for the next four minutes. Elmhurst trimmed the lead down to three before Reid Jones hit a 3-pointer giving Millikin a six-point lead with six minutes to play. Elmhurst answered back with a lay-up from Chris Martin, who promptly stole the inbounds pass and hit another lay-in, bringing the Bluejays to within two points (61-59) with 5:27 to play.
The Bluejays went cold from the floor, being held without a bucket for the next three minutes, allowing Millikin to build its lead back to nine points. The Bluejays trimmed the lead down to four points with a minute to play, but Millikin iced the game from the free throw line, hitting nine of their final 10 free throws.
For the game, Elmhurst shot 48.1 percent from the floor (26-of-54) and just 28.5 percent from 3-point range (4-of-14). Elmhurst finished 19-of-27 from the free throw line (70.4 percent).
Millikin finished the game shooting 56 percent from the floor (28-of-50) including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc (53.8 percent). The Big Blue converted 19-of-27 free throw attempts (70.4 percent). Millikin shot a whopping 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the floor in the second half, including 4-of-5 from long range.
Martin led the Bluejays in the loss, finishing with 27 points, moving into fifth-place all-time on Elmhurst's career scoring list. He added five rebounds and four assists as well. Dave Gershenzon added 16 points off the bench while Nick Michael added 11 points and six rebounds in the loss.
Elmhurst had no answer for Millikin's Drew Gensler. The freshman guard finished with a game-high 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including 8-of-9 in the second half. Jones added 17 points in the win.
Elmhurst, ranked 16th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, will look to rebound when they travel to 13th ranked Augustana College on Saturday, January 7.