Elon MBB Phoenix Begins Three-Game Homestand against Radford

ELON, N.C. – Elon University men’s basketball returns to Alumni Gym for the start of a three-game homestand, which begins on Wednesday night, Nov. 22, as the Phoenix faces former Big South rival the Radford Highlanders at 7 p.m.

GAME NOTES | PREVIEW

COVERAGE
Watch the Phoenix in action against the Highlanders on Phoenix All-Access or listen to the Elon IMG Sports Network broadcast on WSJS 104.5 FM and 1200 AM, or on elonphoenix.com. Taylor Durham and Brian Morris will have the call on the radio broadcast with the pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m. Matt Krause will have the call from Phoenix All-Access.

DONATE FOOD ITEMS
Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Allied Churches of Alamance County, Inc. Following the game, Elon players will be available for post-game autographs.

FINAL SEASON IN ALUMNI GYM
The 2017-18 season marks the 67th and final year of competition inside historic Alumni Gym as the program is set to relocate to the Schar Center for the 2018-19 campaign. Elon has just 12 home games remaining inside Alumni Gym.

THE SERIES
• Wednesday marks the 13th all-time meeting between Elon and Radford and the second straight season the two have met. This will be the first time Radford has visited Alumni Gym since Feb. 22, 2003, when Elon was a member of the Big South Conference.
• Radford defeated Elon 68-56 in last season’s matchup on Dec. 10, 2016 at the Dedmon Center. Last year’s tilt was the first time the two teams had faced off in 13 years.

LAST TIME OUT
• Milwaukee rallied from a 19-point deficit and made the game-winning shot with one second remaining to defeat the Phoenix 72-71 in the finale of the Black & Gold Shootout on Sunday. Jeremy Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound and drained a jumper with one second remaining to cap off the rally.
• Dainan Swoope recorded his third-straight 20+ point effort with 20 on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor and making 4-of-5 shots from three-point range. Tyler Seibring added 12 points and Brian Dawkins scored 11 to round out Elon’s double-digit scorers. Swoope and Dawkins were named to the Black & Gold Shootout All-Tournament Team for their performances over the three-game stretch.

IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
• Elon has four players averaging doubles figures so far in this early season. Dainan Swoopeleads the way with 16.7 ppg, while the other four that round out the total include Brian Dawkins(11.8 ppg), Tyler Seibring (10.5 ppg) and Dmitri Thompson (10.2 ppg).
• Steven Santa Ana (9.8 ppg) and Sheldon Eberhardt (7.0 ppg) are not far behind and each have recorded a combined five double-figure scoring games this season.
• The Phoenix has had at least four players finish in double-figures in four games this season. The only two times this season Elon had less in a game was against #1 Duke on Nov. 10 and Nov. 19 against Milwaukee.

SWOOPE THERE IT IS
• Dainan Swoope has been on a scoring tear over his last three games, scoring 20+ points in all three contests and averaging 23.7 ppg during the Black & Gold Shootout.
• He matched a career-high with 26 points in Elon’s triple overtime win against FIU on Nov. 17, followed with a 25-point performance against Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 18 and rounded out the tournament with 20 points against Milwaukee.
• Swoope is currently 10th in the CAA averaging 16.7 ppg through six games this season.
• Since only scoring five points against William Peace, Swoope has averaged 21.0 ppg. He has scored in double figures in five of six games this season.
• The junior point guard is also fourth in the CAA in assists averaging 3.5 dimes per game this season.

WHAT A THRILLER
• Elon erased a 13-point deficit to defeat Florida International in triple overtime on Friday, Nov. 17, to open the Black & Gold Shootout.
• It was only the second triple overtime game Elon has played since becoming a Division I program in 1999-2000.
• The Phoenix improves to 2-0 in triple overtime games since becoming a Division I program. Elon defeated UNCG 112-108 in the team’s last 3OT game on Feb. 28, 2004.

A LOOK AT ELON
• The Phoenix has started the season with a 3-3 mark and are coming off a 2-1 record at the Black & Gold Shootout in Milwaukee. Elon is currently second in the CAA averaging 80.2 points per contest and averaging a league-best 11.7 made three pointers a game.
• Defensively, the Phoenix has been stout, only allowing teams to shoot 41.4% from the floor, which ranks second in the CAA. Elon is also first in the league in defensive rebounds, averaging 32.7 per game.
• Elon returns all five starters and its top five scorers from a team that finished 18-14 overall and placed tied for fourth in the CAA with a 10-8 mark in 2016-17.
• Four of the five starters averaged double-figure scoring last season, led by 2016-17 All-CAA Second Team forward Tyler Seibring, who averaged a team-high 14.4 ppg.
• Brian Dawkins finished second on the team in scoring at 12.9 ppg, while Steven Santa Anaand Dainan Swoope each scored 11.7 ppg. Dmitri Thompson posted 8.9 ppg as a junior last season.
• Dawkins, Thompson, Jack Anton, Jack George and Collin Luther make up this year’s senior class.
• Elon also made three additions this past offseason, bringing in freshman guard Nathan Priddy and forwards Simon Wright and Duje Radja into the fold.

SCOUTING RADFORD

• The Radford offense has been extremely consistent this season, posting point totals of 72, 72 and 73 through three games. The team only averaged 65.3 points per game a season ago.
• Redshirt freshman Carlik Jones is leading the team in both points per game (14.3) and assists per game (2.3) thus far.
• Defense has been key to early season success for Radford. The Highlanders rank second in the Big South with only 70.3 points allowed per game thus far.
• Hitting the offensive glass and creating second chance points have been an emphasis for the team this season as Radford leads the Big South in offensive rebounds averaging 14.0 per game.
• Head Coach Mike Jones and his staff have gone with three different starting lineups through the first three games of the season.
• The bench has been key this season for Radford as they have outscored opposing benches by a combined tally of 123-51.

UP NEXT
Following a week-long break, the Phoenix continues its three-game homestand on Thursday, Nov. 30, against the South Florida Bulls inside Alumni Gym. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. on Phoenix All-Access and the Elon IMG Sports Network.