Elon Men’s Basketball Hosts Belmont Abbey in Home Opener Wednesday

ELON, N.C. – After two road contests to open the 2015-16 season, the Elon University men’s basketball team returns to Alumni Gym to hosts Belmont Abbey in its home opener on Wednesday night, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

The game will broadcasted live on Phoenix All-Access with Matt Krause and Justin Biegel on the call. You can also listen to the game live on WSML 104.5 FM/1200 AM with Taylor Durham and Ryan Meizinger on the Elon IMG Sports Network. Pre-game coverage on WSML in Alumni Gym begins at 6:30 p.m.

ELON VS BELMONT ABBEY
Monday will be the 51st overall meeting between the two schools and the first time the schools have faced each other since the 1998-99 season.

The last time the two sides met, the Phoenix defeated the Crusaders 94-54 on Jan. 4, 1999, the only game that Elon has faced Belmont Abbey during the program’s Division I era. The series between Elon and Belmot Abbey started during the 1953-54 season. The Crusaders lead the series before the Elon’s Division I era 25-24.

HOME SWEET HOME
Elon has won 10 straight home openers. The Phoenix defeated Florida Atlantic 64- 58 to open the 2014-15 season in Alumni Gym. The last time Elon lost a home opener was the 2004-05 season when the Phoenix lost to Weber State 57-50 on Nov. 29, 2004.

HOUSE OF HORRORS
Over the last four years, Elon has a 38-17 record (18-5 vs. non-conference teams) inside Alumni Gym. Elon has sold out Alumni Gym 15 times under head coach Matt Matheny, with its most recent sellout coming on Feb. 28, 2015, vs. UNCW.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
With the win over Charlotte last Friday, Nov. 13, it was the first season-opening road win for the Phoenix since the 2009-10 season when they opened the season with a win at Lipscomb. Friday’s win marked the first time that Elon has won three-straight season openers in the Division I era. The last time the program won three consecutive home openers was the the 1992-93 Elon team.

SAMSON 1,000 POINT MILESTONE
Tanner Samson is currently 36 points away from becoming Elon’s 39th 1,000-point scorer with 964 after scoring 12 points in the season opener at Charlotte and 10 against No. 24 Michigan on Monday night. He began the season 942 career points.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix hit the road for its second Battle 4 Atlantis mainland game on Saturday, Nov. 21, when they take on the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

Elon returns home for Thanksgiving, Nov. 26-27, to host a Battle 4 Atlantis Mainland Tournament at Alumni Gym. The other teams participating in the tournament include Furman, Mount Saint Mary’s, and Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.