Elon Men’s Basketball Opens League Play Wednesday at Georgia Southern

ELON, N.C. – Winners of four of its last five games, the Elon University men’s basketball team shifts its attention to its Southern Conference schedule on Wednesday night, Nov. 28, when the Phoenix heads to Hanner Fieldhouse in Statesboro, Ga., to face the Georgia Southern Eagles. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

Elon (4-2) at Georgia Southern (2-3)
Site: Statesboro, Ga.
Arena (Capacity): Hanner Fieldhouse (4,358)
Series: Tied, 9-9
Last Meeting: March 3, 2012 – Elon won, 65-58

THE SERIES: Wednesday is the 19th all-time meeting between Elon and Georgia Southern, as the series is tied, 9-9. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1960-61 season, with Elon winning the first meeting, 89-62. Elon is 4-4 all-time on the road against Georgia Southern. The Phoenix won its last meeting with the Eagles in Statesboro, Ga., with a 72-57 decision on February 26, 2011. Lucas Troutman scored 14 points and recorded four blocks against the Eagles in that game, while Drew Spradlin tied GSU’s Eric Ferguson with a game-high 16 points.

LAST MEETING VS. GSU: Elon won the last meeting on March 3, 2012 in the Southern Conference Tournament quarterfinals with a 65-58 decision. Jack Isenbarger scored a team-high 18 against the Eagles last year in the tournament to lead the Phoenix. Elon went 1-1 against GSU last year, as the two games were decided by one point in favor of the Phoenix (128-127). Elon outscored GSU, 61-49, in the first half of games last year, but the Eagles outscored the Phoenix, 78-67, in the second half. Isenbarger averaged 17.5 points against the Eagles last season in two meetings, while Lucas Troutman averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds versus GSU.

CONFERENCE OPENERS: Since joining the Southern Conference beginning in the 2003-04 season, Elon has a 4-5 record in league lid-lifters. The Phoenix has never opened conference play against Georgia Southern. In league openers on the road, Elon has a 1-3 record, with its lone victory coming at Wofford during the Phoenix’s 2005-06 campaign. November 28th is the second earliest conference opener Elon has had since joining in the SoCon. The team opened up league play during the 2007-08 season on November 27th against Western Carolina.

ELON IN THE SOCON: The Phoenix is in its 10th season as a member of the Southern Conference. Elon is 74-103 (including tournament action) against teams in the Southern Conference since the 2003-04 campaign.

ON THE HORIZON: Following Wednesday’s game at Georgia Southern, Elon returns to the friendly confines of Alumni Gym for the first time since Nov. 18 when it hosts College of Charleston at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.