CAA/Elon Announces 2016-17 Men’s Basketball League Schedule

RICHMOND, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association has announced its 18-game 2016-17 men’s basketball league schedule today, Aug. 18, as the Elon University men’s basketball program begins its third season in the conference. Dates and times are subject to change, as the league office will announce its full TV package on Oct. 25 at CAA Media Day at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Va. Elon will announce its non-conference schedule in the coming weeks.

The Phoenix will begin a tough stretch of four games in eight days to open CAA play. Elon starts conference play at home on Saturday, Dec. 31, against College of Charleston in Alumni Gym. The two teams split the regular season series in 2015-16, with the road team taking each contest. Two days later, Elon plays its first CAA road contest of the year in a matchup against reigning CAA champions UNCW on Monday, Jan. 2, inside Trask Coliseum.

Then, Elon will hit the road again, this time to Williamsburg, Va., to face the William & Mary Tribe on Thursday, Jan. 5. The maroon and gold will then head back to Alumni Gym to host Towson on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Another home and road weekend, plus first matchups, await as the Phoenix faces 2016 CAA runner-up Hofstra on Thursday, Jan. 12, inside Alumni Gym, followed by a trip to Harrisonburg, Va., on Saturday, Jan. 14, to face the James Madison Dukes. Elon dropped a pair of tightly contested games to Hofstra in both matchups last season. The maroon and gold split the season series against the Dukes, which included a 79-73 victory on Jan. 7 in Harrisonburg.

It will be Elon’s first conference home weekend inside Alumni Gym that follows, as the Phoenix hosts Drexel on Jan. 19, followed by its second matchup of the season against William & Mary on Jan. 21.

Elon will then take its annual trip up north for road games against Northeastern on Thursday, Jan. 26, and Hofstra on Saturday, Jan. 28. The Phoenix earned its first victory in Boston last season, grinding out a 71-67 victory on Jan. 30 inside Matthews Arena.

After hosting James Madison on Thursday, Feb. 2, the Phoenix will travel to South Carolina to take on College of Charleston on Saturday, Feb. 4. It was inside TD Arena last season that Elon defeated the Cougars on a last second three pointer with just under 20 seconds to go to lead the Phoenix to a 65-64 win on Jan. 16.

Following a home and road split on Feb. 9 at Delaware and Feb. 11 against UNCW, the Phoenix embarks on its second road weekend of the season with matchups at Towson on Feb. 16 and Drexel on Feb. 18. Elon defeated the Dragons for the second straight season in Philadelphia on Feb. 18 with an 81-76 victory last season.

Elon closes out the regular season inside Alumni Gym with two games. After the Phoenix hosts Northeastern on Thursday, Feb. 23, Elon hosts its final home game against Delaware on Saturday, Feb. 25, inside Alumni Gym.

The 2016 CAA Men’s Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 3-6 at North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C. All 10 league institutions qualify in the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

Date      Opponent                  Location
Dec. 31   College of Charleston     Elon, N.C.
Jan. 2    at UNCW                   Wilmington, N.C.
Jan. 5    at William & Mary         Williamsburg, Va.
Jan. 7    Towson                    Elon, N.C.
Jan. 12   Hofstra                   Elon, N.C.
Jan. 14   at James Madison          Harrisonburg, Va.
Jan. 19   Drexel                    Elon, N.C.
Jan. 21   William & Mary            Elon, N.C.
Jan. 26   at Northeastern           Boston, Mass.
Jan. 28   at Hofstra                Hempstead, N.Y.
Feb. 2 	  James Madison             Elon, N.C.
Feb. 4 	  at College of Charleston  Charleston, S.C.
Feb. 9 	  at Delaware               Newark, Del.
Feb. 11   UNCW                      Elon, N.C.
Feb. 16   at Towson                 Towson, Md.
Feb. 18   at Drexel                 Philadelphia, Pa.
Feb. 23   Northeastern              Elon, N.C.
Feb. 25   Delaware                  Elon, N.C.
March 3-6 CAA Men's Basketball      North Charleston, S.C.
             Championship 
* - Dates are subject to change