ELON, N.C. – A couple of free throws proved the difference in a hard-fought Southern Conference bout as the Western Carolina Catamounts escaped Alumni Gym with a 78-76 overtime victory over the host Elon Phoenix on Saturday afternoon. Elon dominated the glass and shot better than 50 percent from the field but only managed 11-of-22 from the stripe as the Catamounts overcame a double-figure deficit in the league win.
With the game tied for the eighth time at the 1:11 mark in the extra session, Elon struggled to find offense and Western connected on 4-of-6 from the line to take a 78-75 edge with eight ticks on the clock. With point guard Jack Isenbarger on the bench after fouling out, Josh Bonney brought the Phoenix up the floor and eventually the ball landed in Drew Spradlin’s hands at the top of the key. The whistle blew for the 47th time in the contest as Spradlin lofted a desperation three and the senior headed to the line for three shots to try and tie the game with 0.5 seconds remaining.
After the first shot came up short, Spradlin made the second and was forced to miss the final attempt in hope of a tip in. Elon was unable to corral the miss and the horn sounded to snap the Phoenix’s four-game home winning streak.
“Offensively we struggled in the second half,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “We kept competing, but we made too many mistakes to expect to win. It is difficult to lose this game, but you can’t fault our effort and our togetherness.”
Both Lucas Troutman and Ryley Beaumont posted double doubles for the Phoenix. Troutman scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds despite being hampered by foul trouble in the first half. Beaumont added 11 points and collected 12 boards. Isenbarger, who is averaging over 20 points per game in the last 10 contests, led the team with 22 on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting performance. Spradlin finished with 11 points on the night.
Western also had four in double figures led by Trey Sumler’s 22 and Keaton Cole’s 19.
Elon turned the ball over 24 times, the most since 25 miscues in its season opener at UMass. Western scored 15 points off the Phoenix turnovers.
The Phoenix never trailed in the first half, going up by as many as 11 points on a Brett Ervin three-pointer at the 7:31 mark. A 12-2 Western run capped by a Cole trey closed the gap to one, 30-29, at 2:59, before Elon scored five of the final seven points in the half to hold the four-point edge at the break.
Elon’s intensity to start the second half mirrored its start to the game as Sebastian Koch ignited the crowd with a one-handed dunk to open the second stanza. The Phoenix pushed its lead to nine, 45-36, with 12:39 on the clock before the offensive struggles began. Western outscored Elon 18-7 over the next six minutes and a Tawaski King layup gave the visitors their first lead, 54-52, with 5:26 remaining in regulation.
Elon never led for the remainder of the half and Western went up by as many as five before Isenbarger drained a three to knot the game at 59 with under three to play. Cole answered on the other end before Spradlin went to the line in hopes of making it a one-point game with 59 seconds to go. He made 1-of-2, but the Phoenix defense got a stop and Spradlin knocked down a jumper with the chance at a three-point play with 15 seconds glowing on the clock.
After a missed free throw, Troutman secured the offensive rebound, but Elon would come up empty and Sumler’s heave from deep rimmed out to send the game into extra minutes.
Elon outrebounded Western, 41-27, and had a season-high 16 offensive boards. The Phoenix connected on 29-of-57 (50.9 percent) and the Catamounts finished shooting 25-of-57 (43.9 percent). Western was 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the charity stripe compared to an 11-of-22 (50.0 percent) performance by the Phoenix.
The race for the Southern Conference North Division crown is a tight one with two regular-season games remaining. Elon is currently tied with Samford for second place in the standings. The Phoenix heads to South Division leader Davidson on Thursday, February 23 for a 7 p.m. tip against the Wildcats.