Elon MBB Phoenix Faces Northeastern on Saturday in Boston

ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s basketball team looks to end its longest losing streak of the season, following a tough loss at Hofstra on Thursday, against the Northeastern Huskies on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. inside historic Matthews Arena.

You can 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 Matthews Arena begins at 6:30 p.m. You can also watch Northeastern’s video broadcast on CAA.TV.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Elon Phoenix and Northeastern Huskies and second time the sides have met this season. In the first matchup earlier this season, Northeastern defeated Elon 86-79 on New Years Eve, Dec. 31, 2015. The Phoenix and Huskies split the season series last year with the home team winning each contest. The last time both teams played each other in Matthews Arena was the the first-ever matchup, as Northeastern defeated Elon 80-61 on Jan. 31, 2015. The Phoenix defeated the Huskies 72-65 on Feb. 26, 2015 inside Alumni Gym to split the last season’s series.

LAST TIME OUT
Elon rallied from a 13-point deficit with 6:34 on the clock in the second half to take a 64-63 lead with 1:12 remaining, but Juan’ya Green made a jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining and the Pride blocked Elon’s last shot attempt as Hofstra held on for the 66-64 victory. Dmitri Thompson led the Phoenix with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Elon began its comeback making a 15-3 run to take its second lead of the game 64-63 with 1:12 left in the game. Dainan Swoope and Seibring hit big three-pointers and Hairston’s dunk gave the Phoenix the lead. Luke Eddy was unable to make a free throw with 17.1 seconds abd Green’s jumper with 2.1 seconds left lifted Hofstra to a 66-64 win over Elon.

A WINNING SENIOR CLASS
Elon’s senior class of Sam Hershberger, Tony Sabato, Tanner Samson and Wes Brewer have been a part of 66 wins during their time with the program since the 2012-13 season. They have a combined record of 66-53 since their first year with the program. The most wins posted by a senior class during Elon’s Division I era is 69 total victories, which was reached by last year’s 2015 class of Austin Hamilton, Kevin Blake, and Ryan Winters.

LET IT FLY
This season, 37.9 percent (229-of-605) of Elon’s made baskets have come from behind the three-point line. The Phoenix is shooting 35.2 percent from deep and are averaging a CAA-best 10.4 triples a game, ranked 8th in the NCAA this season. Elon’s 18 3-pointers against the Alabama State Hornets on Dec. 16 was the most a Phoenix team has made in a game during the coach Matheny era. Tanner Samson has a team-high 66 made treys this season, while Dainan Swoope is behind him with 49. A total of 10 Phoenix has made a bucket from deep this season.

DISHING IT OUT
Elon as a team is averaging 15.9 assists per game this season, which is second the CAA. Luke Eddy is leading the team with 107 assists, 4.9 assists per game. He is second in the CAA in both categories.

FRESH IMPACT
Elon’s freshmen have made an impact during the 2015-16 season scoring 37.1 percent of Phoenix points this season. 638 of the team’s 1719 points have been scored by a freshmen, which includes 228 from Dainan Swoope, 203 from Tyler Seibring, Steven Santa Ana has tabbed 172 and Karolis Kundrotas has scored 26. Sheldon Eberhardt has nine points. He scored his first-career basket on Dec. 13 against Wesley College and had a bucket in the final minutes against #15 Duke. Seibring and Santa Ana have been instrumental in CAA play so far as freshmen. Seibring has averaged 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in the first nine games, while Santa Ana has notched 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in six games.

GOOD START IS KEY
Elon has been most successful this season when winning the tip and leading at the half this season. The Phoenix is 10-1 overall this season when leading at the half. Elon’s loss vs. JMU on Saturday, Jan. 23, was the first loss of the season when leading at the half.

POTENT OFFENSE
Elon ranks in the top-3 in the CAA in multiple offensive categories. In game averages, the Phoenix is third in scoring (78.1 ppg), second in assists (15.9 apg), and first in three-pointers per game (10.4).

316 AND COUNTING
The Elon men’s basketball program has made at least one three-point field goal in 316 consecutive games (not including exhibition games). The Phoenix currently averages 10.4 mades three pointers a game this season. The last time Elon did not make a three in a game was Jan. 30, 2006, at Georgia Southern when the team went 0-of-14 from deep.

UP NEXT
Next week, Elon is back in Alumni Gym for both games. The Phoenix faces Delaware on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., followed by Towson on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. Saturday’s game will be televised on American Sports Network.