Elmhurst trailed only after opening bucket of the game. A Robert Strzemp lay-up put Elmhurst up for good just 1:48 into the game. Elmhurst scored the next eight points to take a quick 10-point advantage at 12-2 just six minutes into play. The Bluejays pushed their lead to as much as 15 points and carried a 30-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.
North Park made an early run in the second half to trim the Bluejays' lead down to six, but the Vikings would get no closer. Elmhurst opened up a 21-9 run to lead by as many as 18 points. The Bluejays cruised the rest of the way, coming away with the 64-53 victory.
After a red-hot start in the first half (10-20 from the floor), the Bluejays shooting cooled in the second half, shooting just 9-of-29 (31 percent). For the game, the Bluejays shot 38.8 percent from the floor (19-of-49) and only 22.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (4-of-18). The Bluejays had a solid night from the free throw line, knocking down 22-of-28 attempts (78.6 percent).
North Park finished the contest shooting 36.5 percent from the floor (19-of-52) and only 7.7 percent from downtown (1-of-13). The Vikings hit 14-of-20 free throw attempts (70 percent).
Elmhurst had a 37-31 advantage on the glass and made the most of its 13 offensive rebounds. Elmhurst finished with 15 second chance points while North Park was held scoreless on its 10 second chance opportunities.
Nick Michael had a strong game for Elmhurst, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He finished 6-of-7 from the foul line and also pulled down nine rebounds. Chris Martin totaled a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Strzemp added 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and grabbed eight boards in the win. Brent Ruch came off the bench to score six points.
North Park was led by Brett Mathison's 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting. Ed Whitaker chipped in with 16 points and Jay Alexander finished with nine points in the loss.
Elmhurst will look for its fourth consecutive win on Saturday, January 21, when they host the Wheaton College Thunder at R.A. Faganel Hall.