ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team continues its week-long home stand on Wednesday, Dec. 16, as they host the Alabama State Hornets at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.
The game will broadcasted live on Phoenix All-Access with Matt Krause and men’s basketball alum Adam Constantine on the call. You can also listen to the game live on WSML 104.5 FM/1200 AM with Taylor Durham and John Roddey on the Elon IMG Sports Network. Pre-game coverage on WSML in Alumni Gym begins at 6:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Tanner Samson turned in another solid performance and was one of four Phoenix to score in double-figures, as the Elon University men’s basketball team cruised past Wesley, 106-77.
Samson finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a career-high three blocks in the win. Dmitri Thompson (17), Steven Santa Ana (17), and Dainan Swoope (13) also scored in double-figures.
Although the Phoenix got off to a slow start against the Wolverines, Elon pulled out to a 42-29 lead at the half. Thompson led the way with seven points and five rebounds in the first half. Elon outscored Wesley 64-48 in the second stanza and the Phoenix completed the victory vs. Wesley.
ELON AGAINST THE SWAC
The matchup between the Phoenix and the Hornets will be the first time the two schools have met. It will only be the second time that Elon has faced a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), but first meeting at a home or away site.
The last time the Phoenix matched up against a SWAC school was Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 6, 1997 in the TCBY Classic in Little Rock, Ark. Elon defeated the Delta Devils 84-70 in its second game of the TCBY Classic.
MATHENY 7TH ALL-TIME
Now in his seventh season with the Phoenix, coach Matheny earned his 98th career win at Elon against Florida International and is in sole possession of seventh on the all-time coaching wins list in program history ahead of Horace Hendrickson (1937-42).
He is just three wins away from tying Bill Morningstar (1979-86) who is sixth all-time with 101 career victories. Mark Simons (1993-2003) is currently fifth all-time with 109 victories.
FRESH IMPACT
Elon’s freshmen have made an impact to start the 2015-16 season scoring just over 34 percent of Phoenix points to start the year. 253 of the team’s 738 points have been scored by a freshmen, which includes 113 from Dainan Swoope, 70 from Steven Santa Ana, Tyler Seibring has tabbed 56 and Karolis Kundrotas has scored 12. Sheldon Eberhardt scored his first-career basket on Sunday against Wesley College scoring two points in the final six minutes.
LET IT FLY
This season, 36.9 percent of Elon’s made baskets have come from behind the three point line. The Phoenix is shooting 33.8 percent from deep and are averaging a CAA-best 10.3 triples a game. Tanner Samson has a team-high 30 made treys this season, while Dainan Swoope is right behind him with 24. A total of nine Phoenix have made a bucket from deep this season.
303 AND COUNTING
The Elon men’s basketball program has made at least one three-point field goal in 303 consecutive games (not including exhibition games). The Phoenix currently average 10.3 mades three pointers a game this season. The last time Elon did not make a three in a game was Jan. 30, 2006, at Georgia Southern when the team went 0-of-14 from deep.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix wraps up the home stand on Saturday, Dec. 19, against in-state rival UNCG at 1 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Elon will be back on the road next week, beginning with a trip to UNC Asheville on Monday, Dec. 21, for a 7 p.m. tip, followed by Duke on Monday, Dec. 28, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.