By Pat Yuk

December 23, 2008

The Elmhurst College men's basketball team clinched the Elmhurst Bluejay Classic Tournament with wins over top ranked Washington University and Benedictine University. 

Elmhurst improved to 8-1 with a 89-83 victory against Benedictine University. 

Brent Ruch played just 23 minutes but had a game high 27 points while Ryan Burks added 15 points and eight rebounds and six assists. 

The Bluejays cruised to a 14 point halftime lead but Benedictine never went away. With 25 seconds remaining, Elmhurst saw their lead shrink to five. 

Elmhurst shot 60% from the field and almost 65% (9-14) from downtown.

The Bluejays kept up their hot shooting against top-ranked Washington University, the defending national champions.   

Ryan Burks had a team high 17 points while Brent Ruch added 16 points and 10 rebounds. The 9-1 Bluejays shot 52% (26-50) from the field and 50% (9-18) from three. The key to the victory may have been impressive free throw shooting in pressure situations. The 'Jays shot 87.5% (21-24) from the line and Ruch finished a perfect 8-8. 

Washington saw their 15 game and 22 game non-conference winning streaks snapped and will fall from the top spot in the rankings whereas the Bluejays are likely to jump up a few spots. 

Ruch was named tournament MVP and Burks was selected to the all-tournament team.