Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. – In a top-five national matchup, host Elmhurst outlasted Augustana 77-75 in overtime Wednesday night at Faganel Hall. The fifth-ranked Bluejays improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in the CCIW, while the top ranked Vikings are now 12-1 on the season and 1-1 in the league.
 
Augustana led 69-68 with 2:15 left in regulation and three offensive rebounds gave the Vikings four opportunities to extend the lead. On a possession that lasted more than a minute and a half, Elmhurst guard Pat Coleman finally came up with a steal with 39 seconds left. Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) fouled Bryant Ackerman on the play and Ackerman hit the first free throw to tie it at 69-all. He missed the second, however, and Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) grabbed the rebound. The Vikings ran down the clock, but Will Nixon blocked Jawan Straughter's (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) shot attempt, resulting in a shot clock violation.
 
On the Bluejays' final possession of regulation, Ackerman missed a shot in the lane and Kyle Wuest's follow-up was off as well. Nixon's tip dropped but was ruled after the buzzer, sending the contest to overtime.
 
Elmhurst never trailed in the extra session, taking a two-point lead on three occasions only to have Augustana answer to tie it. Erik Crittenden's basket with 1:20 left broke the 13th tie of the night and provided the margin of victory. Crittenden and Nixon both came up with blocks in the final minute to protect the lead.
 
A see-saw first half had seven lead changes and five ties. Nixon's layup at the 8:29 mark gave the hosts their biggest lead of the period at 28-22, while the Vikings never led by more than two. Elmhurst scored the final five points to take a 38-34 lead at the break.
 
The Bluejays stretched the advantage to seven three times early in the second half, but Augustana went on a 17-4 run to take a 57-51 lead on a Hill layup with nine minutes to play. Hill had a chance to put the Vikings up eight on their next possession but his layup in traffic rolled off. Elmhurst answered with a 14-4 run of its own to take a 65-61 lead. Straughter's three-pointer with 2:25 left put Augustana on top 69-67 and Coleman split a pair of free throws prior to the Vikings' marathon possession.
 
Hill finished with 22 points and a game-high four assists. Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds and Ryan added 10 points and nine boards. Wuest scored a game-high 26 for the Bluejays. Crittenden (12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots) and Nixon (10 points, six boards and five blocks) came up big as well.
 
The Vikings will be back on the road on Saturday, January 9, traveling to Chicago, Illinois to take on North Park with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.