Elon Stifles Marist in First Men’s Basketball Road Game

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Elon University men’s basketball team got off to a hot start and never looked back on Sunday, Nov. 10, as the Phoenix claimed a 75-48 victory over the Marist Red Foxes inside McCann Arena.

The maroon and gold shot 50 percent from the field in the win, its largest margin of victory (27 points) on the road during Matt Matheny’s tenure as head coach. Elon held Marist to 31 percent shooting and without a three-point field goal make (0-for-14).

“We started very well tonight and having several veteran players that know our system certainly helped us in that regard,” Matheny said. “We shot it very well Friday night and that carried over to the beginning of this game and that gave us the confidence to get it going early.”

The hot hand of Tanner Samson helped pave the way for an early lead for the Phoenix for the second straight game. The sophomore from Littleton, Colo., knocked down four three-pointers in the game’s first six minutes to help Elon out to an quick lead. Samson ended the night with a game-high 17 points.

Lucas Troutman finished the game with 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go along with four rebounds and two blocks. Austin Hamilton and Ryley Beaumont added 13 and 11 points, respectively, to round out four Phoenix players in double figures.

Much like Friday night, Samson helped lead the Elon charge from the very start, striking with four quick makes from beyond the arc in the first six minutes to give Elon a 16-6 edge.

Marist was forced to take a timeout with 10:42 to play in the opening frame after a fast-break layup by Hamilton gave the Phoenix a 25-10 advantage.

Troutman put the Phoenix ahead by 20 points with less than eight minutes remaining after spinning in the lane for a right-handed hook that gave Elon a 32-12 lead.

The Phoenix led 47-16 at intermission, closing the final 13:05 of the first period on a 31-6 run. Elon shot 62 percent in the first 20 minutes, including 54 percent from three.

Elon led by as many as 34 in the game. The team’s 27-point win is its largest margin of victory in a road game since a 37-point decision at Lock Haven on Nov. 29, 1996.

The Phoenix returns to action on Friday, Nov. 15, at Charlotte. Tip is set for 4 p.m. inside Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C.