VALPARAISO | Exhibition games are designed to give Division I teams like Valparaiso a November breather, a time to work out the kinks before the wins and losses count in the standings.
Elmhurst College and coach Mark Scherer, a Homer Drew assistant in the mid-1990s, didn't get the memo.
The Division III Bluejays made a game of it, trailing by just two at halftime. But the Crusaders started the second half with a 23-4 run on their way to an 85-63 victory in their only exhibition game this season.
Valpo fans learned two things from the game. The Crusaders may have trouble finishing off breakaway dunks, and freshman De'Andre Haskins is very good.
Twice in the second half, Valpo missed breakaway dunks. First, Michael Rogers missed one at the 15:30 mark. Then, senior Urule Igbavboa had the ball slip out of his hands while going up for an uncontested slam with 11:54 to play.
But that didn't overshadow the play of Haskins.
After scoring nine points in the first half, Haskins made consecutive 3-pointers early in the second half to help the Crusaders finally pull away.
Haskins, who played last season at LaLumiere, made all five of his shots, including three 3-pointers.
He ended up with 15 points. Sophomore Benjamin Fumey, making his Valpo debut, also played well with 13 points and showed some versatility around the basket.
Igbavboa atoned for his missed dunk, putting down a couple later on in the second half. He finished with a team-leading 18 points and seven rebounds.
Valpo led 38-36 at the break, but it seemed as if the Crusaders should have had more of a cushion.
The Crusaders shot 50 percent in the first half while holding the Bluejays to 38.7 percent. But every time Valpo looked as if it would put together a run, Elmhurst's 6-foot-9 senior Brent Ruch came up with a basket.
Ruch scored 15 in the first half, exposing the well-known fact the Crusaders may be a little weak in the middle. But he struggled after the break, and finished with 19.
All of the Valpo freshmen had a few moments in the spotlight.
Guard Erik Buggs started and had two steals before the first media timeout.
Logan Jones scored six first-half points, including a pair of driving layups.
Center Cameron Witt showed he will be capable of playing serviceable minutes when the Horizon League season rolls around.
Haskins' team-high nine points in the first half included seven in a row late in the closing minutes to allow Valpo to maintain a slim lead going into the break.
The Crusaders played without senior guard Brandon McPherson, who is still not back from offseason knee surgery. He is going to be re-evaluated this week.
