Elon and Davidson Collide on Wednesday Night

ELON, N.C. – The Southern Conference’s North Division and South Division champions will square off on Wednesday night, Feb. 27, inside Alumni Gym when the Elon University men’s basketball team hosts Davidson. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Elon (19-9, 12-4 SoCon) vs. Davidson (21-7, 15-1 SoCon)
Site: Elon, N.C.
Arena (Capacity): Alumni Gym (1,607)
Series: Davidson leads, 36-12
Last Meeting: March 4, 2012, in Asheville, N.C. – Davidson won, 83-67

THE SERIES: Wednesday night marks the 49th all-time meeting between Elon and Davidson. The Wildcats lead the series, 36-12, and have won the last three meetings. Elon is 7-12 all-time against Davidson in games played inside Alumni Gym. The last time the two teams met on Elon’s campus was Jan. 20, 2010, when the Phoenix came away with a 77-70 win.

LAST MEETING: The Wildcats eliminated the Phoenix from last year’s Southern Conference Tournament with an 83-67 decision in the semifinals at the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville, N.C. Davidson went on to top Western Carolina in the championship game and earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Second-half shooting struggles that included a lengthy drought from the field proved to be the difference maker in the setback for Elon. The Phoenix trailed by six points at the half and pulled within one early in the second half, but the Wildcats then held the maroon and gold scoreless for an 11-minute span. Jack Isenbarger led Elon with 22 points, while Jake Cohen finished with a game-high 24 points for Davidson.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following Wednesday’s game versus Davidson, Elon closes out the regular season at home on Saturday against UNC Greensboro. The team will honor seniors Aaron Smith, John Moody, Roger Dugas and Josh Bonney prior to tip.

LOOKING BACK: A second-half surge by the Chattanooga Mocs proved to be the difference maker in a 72-68 setback on Feb. 23 at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs went on a 14-2 run in the second period and reached the free throw line a total of 29 times. Ryley Beaumont scored 20 points and grabbed seven boards for Elon.

COMMON THREADS: There are several common ties between Elon and Davidson. Elon head coach Matt Matheny graduated from Davidson in 1992 after competing for the Wildcats in both football and basketball. Matheny was an assistant men’s basketball coach at Davidson from 1993-2003 before serving as the Cats’ associate head coach from 2003-09. Elon assistant coaches Tim Sweeney and Will Roberson were both members of the Davidson men’s basketball staff during their careers as well. Roberson is a 2002 Davidson graduate. In four career games against Davidson as a player at Elon, current Phoenix Director of Basketball Operations Monty Sanders averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He scored 17 against the Wildcats on March 2, 2009, his second highest point total during his career at Elon.

ROAD TO ASHEVILLE: The 2013 Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for March 8-11, 2013, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. Elon has locked up the No. 2 seed in the tournament by clinching the North Division title and will play its first game on Saturday, March 9, at 6 p.m.