Phoenix, Ariz. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team fell 76-71 to Elmhurst College (Ill.) in the championship game of the D3 Desert Invitational Saturday night at PHHacility. The Eagles drop to 7-4 on the season while the Bluejays improve to 8-4. UWL had its four-game winning streak snapped with the loss.  

Elmhurst (Ill.) took a 5-2 lead with 17:24 left in the first half in the first meeting between the teams since 2009-10 when UWL went on a 21-6 run to lead 23-11 with 10:55 remaining after a Tanner Bruchs' three-point field goal. The Eagles went nine-of-12 from the field in the run, including three-of-four from three-point range. UWL led, 28-15, with 7:51 left on a Brendon Manning jumper when Elmhurst (Ill.) used a 12-0 run to cut the lead to 28-27. The game was tied, 33-33, at halftime.

The Bluejays took a 46-41 lead with 14:58 left in the game when the Eagles scored eight straight points to lead, 49-46, with 12:47 left on a Ben Meinholz jumper. Elmhurst (Ill.) later took a 56-55 lead with 9:51 remaining before UWL regained the lead at 61-58 with 7:26 left on a Terek Nesheim jumper. Jack Rhode's three-pointer with 5:18 left gave the Bluejays a 65-61 lead. Nesheim's three-point play with 5:03 left cut the lead to 65-64, but Elmhurst (Ill.) would not trail the rest of the game. 

UWL trailed, 70-69 with 3:56 remaining, after Taulvish McCray hit a three-point field goal, but Rhode's three-point play gave Elmhurst (Ill.) a 73-69 lead with 2:54 left. A pair of Meinholz free throws for UWL cut the lead to 73-71 with 2:46 remaining before Elmhurst (Ill.) scored the final three points of the game. UWL was held without a field goal in the final 3:56, missing its final five shots.

UWL shot 47.4% from the field, including 33.3% (eight-of-24) from three-point range, and 64.3% (nine-of-14) at the free throw line. Nesheim led the Eagles with 15 points off the bench, finishing six-of-seven from the field, including one-of-one from three-point range, and two-of-three at the line. McCray finished with 12 points while Manning recorded a double-double with 11 points and game-high 12 rebounds. 

Elmhurst (Ill.) shot 49.1% from the field, including 33.3% (six-of-18) from three-point range, and 57.1% (16-of-28) from the line. Rhode led the Bluejays with 33 points while Derek Dotlich finished with 13 points and Jeremy Ireland with 10. 

UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 2 hosting UW-Stout in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener both teams. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Mitchell Hlal.