ELON, N.C. — The Elon men’s basketball team is looking to close the regular season on a high note and possibly secure a bye in the first round of next week’s Southern Conference Tournament when the Phoenix hosts local rival UNCG on Saturday night in Alumni Gym. An Elon victory coupled with a Samford loss at Chattanooga will give the Phoenix the number two seed in the North Division and a first-round tournament bye. Elon will also honor lone senior Drew Spradlin prior to the game as he plays for the final time in front of the home crowd.
Elon will “White Out” Alumni Gym for the occasion and the first 800 fans in attendance will receive a free Elon basketball t-shirt.
Site: Elon, N.C.
Arena: Alumni Gym
Series: Elon leads, 18-13
Streak: Elon has won four
Radio: WPCM 920 AM — Taylor Durham and Dick Stewart will call the action
Twittter: @elonscores
FREE THROWS
• The Phoenix needs a victory and a Samford loss at Chattanooga to earn a first-round bye in next week’s Southern Conference Tournament. In various scenarios, Elon could finish as the number two, three or four seed in the North Division.
• UNCG has already clinched the top seed and Chattanooga will be the sixth seed in the North.
• This evening is the regular-season finale and Senior Night for lone senior Drew Spradlin.
• Since joining the Southern Conference, Elon is 5-3 on Senior Night. The Phoenix has hosted the Spartans in two of those contests and won both, including a 99-90 decision last year.
• Elon is 9-4 in Alumni Gym this season, but lost its last game on Robertson Court on Feb. 18.
• Elon has been struggling on the defensive end of the floor as of late — Phoenix opponents have shot 40 percent or better in 11 of the last 13 contests and in all but two of the 15 losses.
• Sophomore Jack Isenbarger is in eighth place on Elon’s single-season three-pointer list with 64. The single-season record at Elon is 82, set by Matt Nowlin in 2003-04.
• Over the last 12 games, Isenbarger is averaging 19.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 4.1 apg. He is shooting 50 percent and has hit 41 triples.
• Elon’s eight SoCon victories are the most during the Matt Matheny era and most since a nine-win campaign in 2007-08.
• Elon is 10-4 when scoring 70 or more points and 3-10 when scoring 69 or less points.
• Lucas Troutman moved into Elon’s all-time career blocks list with two swats against South Carolina. The sophomore now has 84 blocks and is in sixth place all-time at Elon.
• The Phoenix has shot better than its opponent in 11 of its 13 wins this year.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Davidson defense stifled the Phoenix and controlled the glass as the Wildcats turned a four-point halftime advantage into a lopsided 66-45 victory.
• Elon managed only six second-half field goals en route to its second-lowest scoring output of the year. Davidson held a dominating 50-35 advantage on the boards, collecting 20 offensive rebounds.
ELON VS. UNCG
• Elon will be looking to sweep the season series with UNCG for the second consecutive season. The Phoenix has won four straight against the Spartans and the last two at Alumni Gym.
• Jack Isenbarger and Lucas Troutman each scored 19 in the road win against the Spartans on Dec. 5. Sebastian Koch also had 10 points and nine rebounds.
• Elon shot 50 percent in the first meeting while holding the Spartans to 37.3 percent shooting.
• UNCG has lost two straight playing without SoCon leading scorer Trevis Simpson but the Spartans still managed to win the North Division title.