ELON, N.C. – The No. 8-seeded Elon University Phoenix men’s basketball team opens the 2016 CAA Men’s Basketball Championships and its 15th conference tournament during the program’s Division I era with a first-round matchup against the No. 9-seeded Drexel Dragons on Friday, March 4, inside the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and you can watch the action live online at CAA.TV.
You can listen to the game live on WSML 104.5 FM/1200 AM with Taylor Durham and Ryan Meizinger on the Elon IMG Sports Network. Pre-game coverage on WSML inside the Royal Farms Arena begins at 5:30 p.m.
ELON IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Under head coach Matt Matheny, Elon is 5-6 in tournament play. Elon was the No. 8 seed last season defeating Towson 74-69 in the first round, and falling to 2015 CAA Tournament runner-up William & Mary 72-59 in the quarterfinals.
Elon’s lone trip to a conference championship game during the school’s Division I era was in 2008 when the Phoenix dropped a 65-49 decision to Stephen Curry and 23rd-ranked Davidson. The Wildcats went on to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament that season with Matheny as the associate head coach on staff. Current Elon assistant coaches Monty Sanders and Chris Long were both players on the Phoenix squad that season.
The 2014 SoCon Tournament was the first time under Matheny that Elon did not win at least one tournament game, as the maroon and gold dropped a quarterfinals decision to eventual tournament runner-up Western Carolina.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks the sixth all-time meeting between Elon and Drexel, and second time the foes have faced off in a neutral setting. Elon holds a slight 3-2 edge in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met in neutral site action was in the first-ever meeting on Nov. 18, 2013 in Piscataway N.J. as part of the NIT Season Tip-off.
The Dragons won 71-64 as the eighth seed in the preseason tournament. This season, Elon swept the regular season series winning 83-78 in Alumni Gym on Jan. 2 and earning the 81-76 victory at Drexel on Feb. 18. Both teams split the season series last season as Elon defeated Drexel 77-67 in Philadelphia on Jan. 3, 2015 to open CAA play in 2015 and the Dragons has the narrow 67-63 victory inside Alumni Gym on Feb. 5, 2015.
SEEDING HISTORY
This year marks Elon’s second consecutive season and third time at the Division I level as the No. 8 seed in a conference tournament. Prior to last season, the last time Elon was the No. 8 seed was in the 2005 Southern Conference Tournament. This year marks Elon’s 15th conference tournament at the Division I level. The Phoenix was not eligible to compete in the Big South Conference Tournament until the 2001-02 season.
Year Seed Rd. Eliminated Opponent
2015 #8 Quarterfinals William & Mary
2014 #4 Quarterfinals W. Carolina
2013 #2 Semifinals Col. of Charleston
2012 #2N Semifinals Davidson
2011 #4N Quarterfinals Col. of Charleston
2010 #6N Quarterfinals W. Carolina
2009 #5N Quarterfinals Chattanooga
2008 #7 Championship Davidson
2007 #10 First Round W. Carolina
2006 #2 Semifinals Davidson
2005 #8 Quarterfinals Davidson
2004 #3N Quarterfinals Davidson
2003 #4 Quarterfinals UNC Asheville
2002 #5 Semifinals Winthrop
MARCH MADNESS
Going into Friday’s game against Drexel, Elon is 14-16 in the month of March during the school’s Division I era. Elon has never made the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level. Elon’s only postseason appearance at the D-I level was the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).
FRESH IMPACT
Elon’s freshmen have made an impact during the 2015-16 season scoring 36.7 percent of Phoenix points this season. 871 of the team’s 2,373 points have been scored by a freshmen, which includes 309 from Tyler Seibring, 285 from Dainan Swoope, Steven Santa Ana has tabbed 222, Karolis Kundrotas has scored 33 and Sheldon Eberhardt has 22.
The three freshmen that have had the most playing time have made an impact for the Phoenix in conference play. Tyler Seibring has averaged a team-high 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18 games. Steven Santa Ana has notched 8.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 13 CAA contests. Dainan Swoope is averaging 7.7 points in conference play.
GOOD START IS KEY
Elon has been most successful this season when winning the tip and leading at the half this season. The Phoenix is 12-2 overall this season when leading at the half. Elon’s loss vs. JMU on, Jan. 23, and against William & Mary on Feb. 25, were the two losses this season when leading at the half.
POTENT OFFENSE
Elon ranks in the top-five in the CAA in multiple offensive categories. In game averages, the Phoenix is fourth in scoring (76.5 ppg), second in assists (15.5 apg), and first in three-pointers per game (9.6).
WINNINGEST SENIOR CLASS
Elon’s senior class of Sam Hershberger, Tony Sabato, Tanner Samson and Wes Brewer are the winningest senior class in Elon’s Division I era after recording their 70th win on Saturday. They have a combined record of 70-56 since their first year with the program in the 2012-13 season. Last year’s 2015 class of Austin Hamilton, Kevin Blake, and Ryan Winters is second and had a combined total of 69 wins as a class.
UP NEXT
If the Elon Phoenix advances to the quarterfinals of the 2016 CAA Men’s Basketball Championships, they will face the No. 1-seeded and regular season champion Hofstra Pride on Saturday, March 5, for a noon tip inside the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore.