WABASH – Life, as well as season-opening basketball games, is like a box of chocolates for the coaches involved. In the case of Elmhurst boys basketball coach Shabaz Khaliq, he didn't really get what he expected, as his Trojans took care of Northfield 58-40 Wednesday.

“I didn't think that we came out with the intensity that we needed,” Khaliq said. “The kids came out a little sluggish – timid a little bit. But the second half was a lot better than the first.”

Elmhurst (1-0) jumped out to a 16-7 first-quarter lead as Arrington Williams found Kristian Gayday for a three-pointer late in the quarter. Gayday (five steals, three rebounds) stroked four three-pointers en route to 12 points on the night.

But the Norse (0-1) methodically worked their way back into the game.

The Trojans threw the ball away six times in the second quarter, and had to play most of the first half without 6-foot-8 center Antonio Wilson, which hindered its cause.

Wilson (eight points, five rebounds, three blocks) dunked on a Northfield defender midway through the first quarter and celebrated excessively while standing over the kid. A technical foul was called on Wilson, and Khaliq took him out for a long period of time.

With :05 remaining in the half, Norse guard Michael Coburn (16 points, four assists) hit a pair of free throws to tie the score at 27.

“(Northfield) got easy layups because our guys weren't on the help-side (defensively),” Khaliq said. “Their guys got into the paint real easy in the first half.”

Khaliq's defensive adjustments worked after halftime, as Elmhurst outscored Northfield 13-4 in the third period. Six of those points came courtesy of 6-foot-5 Pervis Hall. The senior forward came off the bench and got busy underneath, as he put in a game-high 16 points and 14 rebounds.

“We dominated on the glass,” Hall said. “Our big man (Wilson) got a couple of dunks and intimidated them.” The Trojans outrebounded Northfield 36-12.

Not only were Wilson and Hall effective, but 6-foot-6 Evan Cleveland was solid for Khaliq as well. The senior forward showed more perimeter skills in this opener than he had last season and totaled 15 points, eight rebounds and a team-high five assists (which tied teammate Marquel Bright).

The Norse trailed 40-31 entering the final period and made a run to trim their deficit to 43-36 midway through the period. Elmhurst responded with an 8-0 run that was capped off by a three-point play by Bright and it was never threatened again.

“Last year the third quarter was always our Achilles' heel,” said Khaliq. “So I'm glad we made the adjustment in the third (quarter).”

In junior varsity action, the Trojans (1-0) beat Northfield 48-43.

Johnny Upshaw led Elmhurst with 12 points, while Anthony Jerrall and Delontae George had 11 each.

Elmhurst will host Carroll at 7:45 p.m. Saturday.