Elon MBB Faces Hofstra in Alumni Gym on Thursday Night

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team looks to build off its first conference win of the season when it returns to Alumni Gym to host the Hofstra Pride in Colonial Athletic Association action on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES

COVERAGE
Watch the action exclusively on Phoenix All-Access and CAA.tv as Matt Krause and Jake Young will have the call on the broadcast. You can also listen to the action on the Elon IMG Sports Network on 104.5 FM, 1200 AM or on the TuneIn app. Taylor Durham and Ryan Meizinger will have the call from Alumni Gym and the pregame show begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW BAG POLICY AT ALUMNI GYM
Beginning this season, Elon University has implemented a new policy for bags entering Alumni Gym. All bags entering the arena will be checked before fans reach the ticket booths at the facility. Multiple lines will be available and there will be specific lines for fans entering with no bags.

The following items will be prohibited from Alumni Gym:
• Weapons
• Explosives
* Alcoholic beverages
• Outside food and beverages
• Smoking and tobacco products
• E-cigarettes
• Containers or coolers
• Flags on poles
• Hoverboards
• Pets (except service animals)

BASKETBALL GAME DAY
For more information on ticketing, parking and directions to Alumni Gym, please visit the Basketball Game Day web page.

SERIES HISTORY
Thursday marks the 6th all-time meeting between Elon and Hofstra. The last four meetings have occured since the Phoenix joined the CAA in 2014-15. Hofstra is 5-0 all time against Elon. Hofstra swept the season-series in 2015-16, winning by a combined six points in two games. Hofstra defeated Elon on a last-second shot by Juan’ya Green, 66-64, on Jan. 28, 2016 in Hempstead, N.Y. The Pride escaped the Phoenix with an 80-76 victory on Jan. 9, 2016 inside Alumni Gym. Prior to joining the CAA, Elon’s first-ever meeting against the Pride was during the 2009-10 NIT Season Tip-Off.

FREE THROW SUCCESS
Through four CAA games, the Phoenix is the best in the conference from the free-throw line, shooting 73.7% thus far. The Phoenix had its best shooting performance from the line on Jan. 7 against Towson, finishing 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the stripe. It was the most makes in a game for Elon this season.

THREE-POINT FRENZY
Steven Santa Ana tied former Phoenix 1,000-point scorer Sebastian Koch for the Elon single-game Division I record for threes in a game with nine versus William & Mary on Thursday night. Koch also hit nine at #21 Colorado on Dec. 13, 2013. The sophomore guard also tied the single-game record for threes in for game inside Kaplan Arena.

The Phoenix is averaging 9.8 three pointers a game this season and have made 10 or more triples in eight contests this season. Elon’s 16 made three pointers at William & Mary was the highest total in a game this season. The last time the Phoenix made 16 or more triples in a game was when Elon made 18 last season against Alabama State on Dec. 16, 2015.

342 AND COUNTING
The Elon men’s basketball program has made at least one three-point field goal in 342 consecutive games (not including exhibition games). 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. Elon is currently averaging 9.8 triples per game, which is first in the CAA and 18th in the NCAA. The Phoenix averaged 9.5 made three pointers a game last season.

MATT MATHENY MILESTONE
Head coach Matt Matheny won his 116th game at Elon on Wednesday, Dec. 28, against Central Penn. With the win, he passed Robert “Bob” Burton (1986-93) for the fourth most in program history. Matheny currently has 117 career victories and is seven wins away from passing D.C. “Peahead” Walker (1927-1937) and moving into third all-time.

LUKE EDDY MILESTONE
Senior point guard Luke Eddy reached 200 assists in his career with three against South Florida on Nov. 17. He currently sits at 239 for his career. He is currently 37 assists away from moving into the top-10 in program history. Tony Chavis ’89 is 10th all-time with 275 career assists.

ROAD TO NORTH CHARLESTON
The 2017 Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 3-6 in North Charleston, S.C., at the North Charleston Coliseum. Last year, UNCW topped Hofstra in the championship game to earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix hits the road on Saturday, Jan. 14, to take on the James Madison Dukes at 4 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. Then, Elon returns to Alumni Gym on Thursday, Jan. 19, to face the Drexel Dragons at 7 p.m.