ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team looks to continue its winning streak on Saturday, Jan. 14, when it faces the James Madison Dukes in Harrisonburg for a Colonial Athletic Association showdown at 4 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
COVERAGE
Watch the action exclusively on CAA.TV. You can also listen to the action on the Elon IMG Sports Network on 104.5 FM, 1200 AM or on the TuneIn app. Taylor Durham and Ryan Meizinger will have the call from the Convocation Center and the pregame show begins at 3:30 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday marks the 6th all-time meeting between Elon and James Madison. The last four meetings have occurred since the Phoenix joined the CAA in 2014-15. James Madison leads the series 4-1. Both Elon and James Madison split the season series in 2015-16, with the road team winning each contest. The Phoenix earned its first-ever victory over the Dukes, 79-73, in the Convocation Center on Jan. 7, 2015. JMU responded with an 82-64 win at Alumni Gym on Jan. 23, 2015. In the last two meetings in Harrisonburg, Va., the differential is Elon +3 with the Phoenix winning by 6 in 2016 and JMU earning a 3-point victory in 2015. The first meeting between the two teams was on Nov. 29, 1975. James Madison won the first-ever matchup 108-94.
PHOENIX HEATING UP
Elon is currently fourth in the league in conference-only scoring, averaging 74 points a game. However, the Phoenix is averaging just over 84 points per game in the last three contests. Steven Santa Ana has been red-hot over the last three games, averaging just over 24 per matchup. He has scored 29 points in two of the last three games at William & Mary and vs. Hofstra.
FREE THROW SUCCESS
In conference games only, Elon is first in the league shooting 75.3% from the line through five games. Elon has made above 80% of its free throws in the last two games. The Phoenix had its best shooting performance from the line on Jan. 7 against Towson, finishing 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the stripe. It was the most makes in a game for Elon this season.
THREE-POINT FRENZY
Steven Santa Ana tied former Phoenix 1,000-point scorer Sebastian Koch for the Elon single-game Division I record for threes in a game with nine versus William & Mary on Thursday night. Koch also hit nine at #21 Colorado on Dec. 13, 2013. The sophomore guard also tied the single-game record for threes in for game inside Kaplan Arena.
The Phoenix is averaging 10.0 three pointers a game this season and have made 10 or more triples in nine contests this season. Elon’s 16 made three pointers at William & Mary was the highest total in a game this season. The last time the Phoenix made 16 or more triples in a game was when Elon made 18 last season against Alabama State on Dec. 16, 2015. The maroon and gold made 14 on Jan. 12 in a 96-80 victory against Hofstra.
343 AND COUNTING
The Elon men’s basketball program has made at least one three-point field goal in 343 consecutive games (not including exhibition games). 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. Elon is currently averaging 10.0 triples per game, which is first in the CAA and 14th in the NCAA. The Phoenix averaged 9.5 made three pointers a game last season.
MATT MATHENY MILESTONE
Head coach Matt Matheny won his 116th game at Elon on Wednesday, Dec. 28, against Central Penn. With the win, he passed Robert “Bob” Burton (1986-93) for the fourth most in program history. Matheny currently has 118 career victories and is six wins away from passing D.C. “Peahead” Walker (1927-1937) and moving into third all-time.
SHARING THE WEALTH
Elon has four players averaging double-digit scoring this season and one that are averaging just under 10 a game. Steven Santa Ana with 13.4 ppg, followed by Tyler Seibring who is scoring 12.9 ppg. Brian Dawkins is scoring 12.3 ppg and Dainan Swoope additionally is averaging 10.7 a game. Luke Eddy is scoring just under 10 points per contest, with 8.7 points per game. All five players have been the scoring leader in at least one game this season. All five players also have been averaging double figures at some point this year. Steven Santa Ana has been the team’s top scorer in a team-high seven games this season.
LUKE EDDY MILESTONE
Senior point guard Luke Eddy reached 200 assists in his career with three against South Florida on Nov. 17. He currently sits at 249 for his career. He is currently 27 assists away from moving into the top-10 in program history. Tony Chavis ’89 is 10th all-time with 275 career assists.
UP NEXT
Elon returns to Alumni Gym next week to host Drexel on Thursday, Jan. 19 and William & Mary on Saturday, Jan. 21.