CANCUN, Mexico – Luke Eddy’s game-winner with 6.8 seconds left completed a 19-point Elon comeback in a 74-73 victory over the Morgan State Bears on Tuesday, Nov. 25, on day one of the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya Hotel.
Led by Eddy and Elijah Bryant, the Phoenix (2-2) erased a 19-point deficit with a 25-5 run over a seven-minute stretch, capped off with a deep Bryant jumper with under a minute to play to give Elon a 72-71 lead.
The Bears (0-5) responded on the ensuing possession when Blake Bozeman went up and under for a layup to put MSU ahead 73-72 with 15.3 seconds left.
But with the clock ticking away, Eddy drove strong to the basket near the right baseline for a layup with just 6.8 seconds remaining to put the maroon and gold back up by one.
Bozeman’s three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, as Elon managed to pull off the comeback victory garner the first win of the Cancun Challenge.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way we battled and the resiliency we showed today,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “We fought for 40 minutes and never gave up. I’m pleased with the way we came out of the locker room in the second half and the aggression we played with on both ends of the court.”
Elon outscored MSU by 10 points in the second session after trailing the Bears by nine at intermission. The Phoenix was plagued by 10 first-half turnovers that led to several Bears baskets, but responded in the second half with only five miscues.
Elon shot 50 percent from the field in the win on 25-of-50 field goal attempts.
Bryant, who was named the CAA Rookie of the Week yesterday, finished with a game-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals. Eddy ended the day with 12 points and four assists.
Elon wraps up play in Cancun tomorrow at 4 p.m. (EST) when it faces the winner of the North Florida and Liberty.