Elon Men’s Hoops Hosts Ferrum for Saturday Exhibition

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team has its final tune up before the start of the 2012-13 regular season on Saturday night, Nov. 3, as the Phoenix welcomes the Ferrum College Panthers to Alumni Gym for an exhibition contest. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

The maroon and gold returns a plethora of talent and experience heading into this season. Elon welcomes back four starters from last year’s squad, including preseason All-Southern Conference selection Jack Isenbarger as well as Ryley Beaumont, Lucas Troutman and Sebastian Koch.

Sophomore guard Austin Hamilton returns after a successful rookie campaign last season in which he was named to the league all-freshman team. Saturday’s exhibition marks a special occasion for Hamilton, as he will be matched up against his brother, Marshall, a senior guard for Ferrum.

The Phoenix has four seniors on this year’s squad, as Josh Bonney, Roger Dugas, John Moody and Aaron Smith all begin their final season at Elon. Kevin Blake and Ryan Winters both enter their sophomore campaigns this season, while junior Egheosa Edomwonyi enters his second full season after transferring to Elon in 2010-11.

The team has a total of four freshmen on this year’s squad – Tanner Samson, Tony Sabato, Wes Brewer and Sam Hershberger.

Elon begins the 2012-13 regular season on the road on Nov. 10 when it takes on Butler inside Hinkle Fieldhouse as part of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Opening Games. The Phoenix hosts the Mainland portion of the Maui Invitational, the Regional Games, on Nov. 17-18 in Alumni Gym when it welcomes Colgate, Coppin State and Florida Atlantic to campus. Elon’s home opener is slated for Nov. 13 against Bridgewater.