PICTURED ABOVE: Jonathan Berntsen led the Thunder with 14 points tonight.
Wheaton, Ill. - A tough Elmhurst defense and a cold shooting night led to 71-46 loss for the Thunder men's basketball team at the hands of the second-ranked Bluejays on Saturday night in King Arena. After a back-and-forth first half, the Thunder shot just 16.7% from the field including 10% from the three-point line in the second half as the Bluejays pulled away using an 18-0 run over the course of a nearly eight-minute stretch. Elmhurst improves to 15-1 on the season and 5-0 in the CCIW. Wheaton is now 4-12 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
Elmhurst shot 35.9% (23-64) from the field and 43.8% (7-16) from the three-point line. The Bluejays shot 72% (18-25) from the free throw line. Wheaton was held to 21.3% (13-61) from the field and 14.3% (3-21) from the three-point line. The Thunder converted 81% (17-21) from the free throw line. Elmhurst won the rebounding battle 53-42 including a 14-12 edge on the offensive glass.
An early three-point play by
Jonathan Berntsen gave the hosts a 5-2 lead before the Bleujays surged ahead 10-1 run. The Thunder defense held Elmhurst scoreless from the field for a six-minute stretch through the middle of the first half and retook the lead at 18-17 on another Berntsen three-point play with 7:01 to play in the half. Elmhurst retook the lead once more and closed the half with four straight points to take a 32-27 lead at halftime.
A free throw by Berntsen with 15:26 left to play cut the Bluejay lead to 39-32 before the Bluejays scored the next 18 points to pull away to a 57-32 lead with 7:32 to play. The lead would never get below 20 again and reached as high as 27 on a pair of occassions as Elmhurst coasted to a 71-46 victory.
Jonathan Berntsen led the Thunder with 14 points.
Michael Berg scored seven points to go with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Trae Masten added nien points and
Luke Peters finished with eight points. Will Nixon led Elmhurst with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Wheaton will next be in action on Wednesday, January 20 when the Thunder host Millikin University at 7:00 p.m. in King Arena.
