Elon Men’s Basketball Returns to Schar Center to Face Milligan

ELON, N.C. – Elon University men’s basketball returns to Schar Center on Thursday night, Nov. 15, to host the Milligan College Buffaloes. The first-ever matchup between the two schools will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed online on Phoenix All-Access.

GAME NOTES | PREVIEW

COVERAGE
You can watch the game live on Phoenix All-Access at elonphoenix.com/live, or you can follow the action on CAA.tv and the CAA.tv app. The Phoenix All-Access and Elon IMG Sports Network coverage will be provided by Taylor Durham and Brian Morris. The Elon IMG Sports Network audio broadcast pregame show will begin at 6:30 p.m.

SCHAR CENTER

• Elon University men’s basketball will play its games inside its new facility, Schar Center, this season after calling Alumni Gym its home since since 1950.
• Schar Center officially opened its doors in July of 2018 and was dedicated on October, 19, 2018. The 161,000-square-foot convocation center has a current capacity of 5,100-seats.
• Not only does it serve as the home for Phoenix basketball and volleyball programs, but it also serves as an event venue that will provide a large gathering space for a wide variety of major campus events such as convocations and concerts.
• The facility is named for Dwight and Martha Schar, of Palm Beach, Fla., parents of Stuart Schar ’16 and Spencer Schar ’19.
• Among Elon’s most generous donors for the project, the Schars have contributed $13 million to the university to provide lead funding for the convocation center and the expanded School of Communications facilities, which features Dwight C. Schar Hall as the centerpiece.

THE MATCHUP
• The matchup marks the first ever meeting between the Elon Phoenix and Milligan College Buffaloes.

ABOUT ELON
• Heading into the 2018-19 season, Elon University men’s basketball returns 11 total players and three of its five starters from a year ago in Tyler Seibring, Dainan Swoope and Steven Santa Ana.
• The Phoenix returns four of its top six scorers, including its 2017-18 leading scorer and rebounder in Seibring (15.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Elon has two 1,000-point scorers on its roster in Seibring (1,267 points) and Swoope (1,050 points). Santa Ana is just 87 points away from becoming the 43rd player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateu.
• Elon is led by senior forward Seibring, who is a two-time All-CAA selection and CoSIDA Academic All-American.
• The program’s senior class is made up of five players in Seibring, Swoope, Santa Ana, Sheldon Eberhardt and Karolis Kundrotas. The four players have combined to play in a total of 437 games and make 209 starts.
• Additionally, the Phoenix has made four new additions to the squad for 2018-19 in first-year players Chuck Hannah, Andy Pack, Federico Poser and Kris Wooten.
• Elon made an average 10.5 three pointers per game last season, which ranked second in the CAA and 13th in the nation. Seibring made 82 of Elon’s three pointers last season, which was tied for the second-most in a single season in program history.
• The Phoenix has been predicted to finish eighth in the league as the CAA released its preseason men’s basketball poll on Oct. 17, during the conference’s digital media day. Northeastern was picked the favorite to win the league. Tyler Seibring collected preseason All-CAA honors as he was named to the second team.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2018-19
• Elon’s 110th season of basketball will open with a marquee matchup as the Elon Phoenix hosts the No. 8-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the program’s first regular season basketball game inside Schar Center. The game is set for Friday, Nov. 9, on ESPNU.
• Prior to that contest, the Phoenix will open the 2018-19 season on Nov. 6 on the road at Manhattan. Elon will then compete in the Tiger Thanksgiving Classic, Nov. 22-24, at Pacific University on Thanksgiving week. Elon has a combined 11-1 record in its last three early-season tournaments.
• During its non-conference slate, the Phoenix plays host to seven home contests, which include North Carolina, Boston University, Furman, UNCG and Canisius.
• Elon opens CAA play with a pair of home contests against Towson (Dec. 28) and James Madison (Dec. 30).

SCOUTING MILLIGAN
• Milligan College is an NAIA member and play in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
• Two other conference members are located in North Carolina in Montreat and St. Andrews.
• The Buffaloes have started the season with a 5-1 record, including a 2-0 ledger in league play.
• Aaron Levarity leads the team in scoring (20.0 ppg) and rebounding (15.0 rpg) through the first six games and was named the AAC Player of the Week on Nov. 11.
• Additionally, Tyler Nichols (15.5 ppg) and DeSean Green (11.7 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for Milligan.
• Bill Robinson is in his 10th season as the head coach at Milligan College and has compiled 144 wins in his tenure.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix heads to Stockton, California next week, Nov. 22-24, to participate in the Tiger Thanksgiving Tournament, hosted by Pacific University. Along with Elon, Pacific, Abilene Christian and UC Riverside will also be participating in the tournament. Elon opens the tournament on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, against Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. eastern time.