Elon Men’s Basketball Hosts Manchester on New Year¹s Eve

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team plays its final home game of the 2012 calendar year on Monday night, Dec. 31, when the Phoenix hosts the Manchester Spartans. The New Year’s Eve tilt is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Alumni Gym.

THE SERIES: Monday night marks the first meeting between Elon and Division III Manchester. Manchester, located in Manchester, Ind., is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

LOOKING BACK: It was déjà vu in the Big Apple for the second time in three years on Dec. 22 at Columbia, as Jack Isenbarger hit the game-winning shot with 2.3 seconds remaining to give Elon a 70-69 win over the Lions. Two seasons ago at Columbia, former Phoenix point guard Chris Long hit a fade-away jumper with 0.1 seconds left in a 70-69 victory for Elon. Isenbarger connected on his fourth triple of the game from the right wing to give Elon the win. Lucas Troutman scored a game- and season-high 23 points for the Phoenix.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following Monday’s game against Manchester, plays its final non-conference game of the season when it hosts Ivy League foe Princeton on Jan. 5 at noon.

APPROACHING A MILESTONE: After scoring 16 points against Columbia, Jack Isenbarger now has 918 career points. Lucas Troutman is not far behind, as the junior forward currently has 850 career points. The last Elon player to enter the 1,000-point club was Drew Spradlin. Spradlin scored his 1,000th career point on Nov. 18, 2011, against Rutgers-Camden to become the 34th player in Elon history to reach the milestone.

ON THIS DATE: In 104 seasons of Elon men’s basketball, the team has played just once on New Year’s Eve. On Dec. 31, 2004, the Phoenix dropped a 71-48 decision at UNC Wilmington.

FIRST 12 GAMES: Like last season, Elon has a 7-5 record after its first 12 games.