ELON, N.C. – Lucas Troutman’s efficient day and a big second-half run lifted the Elon men’s basketball team into the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Regional Winners’ Game tomorrow afternoon, as the Phoenix defeated the Colgate Raiders, 81-72, inside Alumni Gym.
Elon will face Mike Jarvis’ Florida Atlantic Owls tomorrow, Nov. 18, at 4:30 p.m. in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Regional Winners’ Game. FAU defeated Coppin State today, 64-61.
Troutman led four Phoenix players in double figures with 18 points to go along with a game-high nine boards and seven blocks. Troutman’s seven blocks are a career-best and put him over the century mark at 102 for his career.
“We’re thrilled with the victory today,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “Our number one goal coming in was to be the aggressive team much like Tuesday night and I thought for the most part we were. We had veteran guys in there at the end of the game and I liked the way they coached and led each other down the stretch.”
Austin Hamilton finished the game with 15 points and six assists, while Tanner Samson and Jack Isenbarger each tallied 12 points, respectively. Samson connected on a game-high four three-balls, as the Phoenix went 9-of-25 from beyond the arc.
Elon protected the ball well in the win, committing just nine turnovers and forcing Colgate into a total of 13. The Phoenix limited the Raiders to a 38-percent clip from the field while shooting at a 44-percent mark from the field on 27-of-62 field goal attempts.
The Phoenix carried a six-point lead into the locker room at intermission after a Troutman layup with 49 seconds remaining put Elon ahead, 41-35. Elon shot 48 percent in the first half, with Troutman and Isenbarger leading the way with 11 and 10, respectively.
Elon stormed out of the gates in the second half, going on an 18-3 run over the first 5:40 to take a 59-38 advantage. The run was fueled by a Troutman dunk at the 18:01 mark and Ryley Beaumont three-pointer with 17:40 remaining that forced a Colgate timeout.
The Raiders managed to pull within six points with less than two minutes remaining, but the Phoenix kept Colgate at arm’s length after knocking down 7-of-8 free throws in the home stretch to secure the victory.