Hoyas Rally in Second Half to Escape Elon Men’s Basketball

WASHINGTON – The Elon University men’s basketball team fell just short of snapping Georgetown’s 46-game non-conference home winning streak on Tuesday, Dec. 17, as the Hoyas rallied in the second half to claim an 85-76 decision over the Phoenix.

“Our performance tonight was a sign of improvement,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “I thought we competed and the number that stands out to me to show that is the rebounding number. It’s been an Achilles heel for us and we rebounded the ball better tonight. When we play Georgetown, our margin for error is ever so slight and so free throw percentage, missing a couple of free throws, a couple of untimely turnovers are not good for us.”

With a strong maroon and gold contingency inside the Verizon Center, Elon (5-6) led Georgetown (7-2) by one at intermission, 40-39, after knocking down eight first-half threes and matching the Hoyas on the boards.

Georgetown began the second session on a 14-5 run to go ahead by eight, 53-45, with 14:26 to play on a Markel Starks triple.

The Phoenix battled back to make it a four-point game with 1:04 to play after Sebastian Koch completed an old-fashioned three-point play following a jumper off the glass and a made free throw to limit the Hoyas to a 78-74 lead.

But Georgetown made Elon pay with key free throws late, hitting 7-of-8 from the line from that point forward to keep the Phoenix at arm’s length to secure the win.

Lucas Troutman and Tanner Samson each finished with a team-best 18 points in the setback, while Koch added 15. Troutman went 8-of-11 from the field, while Samson and Koch both connected on four makes from three-point range.

Elon won the battle on the glass against the Hoyas, 31-30, and shot 45 percent (13-of-29) from long range against the BIG EAST’s leader in three-point field goal percentage defense. Elon’s 13 makes from beyond the arc more than double the highest amount of three-point field goals the Hoyas have given up in a game this season.

Behind eight triples in the first 20 minutes, Elon carried a 40-39 edge into the locker room at intermission. The Phoenix held its own on the boards against the Hoyas, as the two squads each grabbed 16 rebounds in the opening frame.

The Hoyas jumped out to an early five-point lead, 10-5, but the Phoenix responded with two Jack Isenbarger triples and a Ryley Beaumont layup to take a 13-10 lead.

Elon carried that momentum throughout the first period, answering the bell six times when Georgetown came back to take a lead.

Elon returns home on Thursday night, Dec. 19, when it welcomes Central Penn to Alumni Gym for a 7 p.m. tip.

2 thoughts on “Hoyas Rally in Second Half to Escape Elon Men’s Basketball

  1. Correction might need to be made to the title of this article. Says womens basketball instead of mens basketball.

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