After a tough three-game road swing where the Phoenix men’s basketball lost three straight, head coach Matt Matheny brings his young team back into Alumni Gym for the first time since last year.
Okay, it has only been 25 days since Elon whomped the Lynchburg Hornets 109-67 on their home court.
Then losses to Dartmouth College, No. 24 San Diego State University and No. 3 University of North Carolina have pushed the Phoenix to 7-5 overall. But they still hold a 2-0 conference record, where it matters come Southern Conference Tournament time.
The Phoenix will put it on the line, as well as an undefeated start to the season at home (5-0), against the Georgia Southern University Eagles, who are 4-8 overall but also 2-0 in the SoCon. Losses came to teams like Wake Forest University and Auburn University, but wins against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Appalachian State University put Georgia Southern tied for first in the South Division of the SoCon early in the season.
On Dec. 29, the Phoenix were on the wrong side of a 23-0 run as the Tar Heels of North Carolina defeated Elon 100-62. Sophomore guard Sebastian Koch scored 17 points to top Elon while sophomore forward Lucas Troutman picked up a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds. Poor shooting continued to be an issue for the Phoenix, as they only shot 33% from the floor.
“We are encouraged, as we head into our conference schedule now, that we were able to continue to fight in the game,” Matheny said following the game. “We count four-minute rounds, and we won the last three rounds. That’s something we will build on. But we played a very, very good basketball team tonight.”
That encouragement will need to show big time tonight against the Eagles, who is on a seven-game road losing streak coming into tonight’s matchup. Last year, the Phoenix beat Georgia Southern in both games, including a 72-57 rout to close out the regular season.
KEY TO THE GAME: What has been lacking for the Phoenix in their last few outings is good shooting. After a hot start to the season in scoring, the Phoenix shot 33% against UNC, 32% against San Diego State and 30% against Dartmouth from the field. Look for Matheny to emphasize getting good shots. One should not expect a victory against the powerful Tar Heels, but after being down 53-19 in the first half, Elon only lost the second half 47-43. The key to tonight’s game is
KEY FACTOR: One thing to really take into account is the performance at home for the Phoenix all season. Elon scores 76.4 ppg, allows 58.2 ppg and shoots 46% from the field at home as opposed to 63, 73.7 and 37.4% on the road, respectively. If the crowd at Alumni Gym is present and loud, expect big games from guys like Spradlin and Troutman tonight. Considering it is Winter Term and students are only taking one class and might not have much else to do on a Thursday night, the home court advantage may be a factor.
EXPECTED STARTING LINEUPS
Elon: Sr. G Drew Spradlin (9.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Fr. G Austin Hamilton (10.1 ppg, 3 apg), So. G Sebastian Koch (10.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), So. F Ryley Beaumont (5.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), So. F Lucas Troutman (12.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Georgia Southern: Sr. G Ben Drayton (12.0 ppg, 3.3 apg), So. G Eric Ferguson (15.1 ppg, 6 rpg), So. G Jelani Hewitt (10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Sr. G Willie Powers (12.1 ppg, 5.5 apg), So. F Marvin Baynham (2.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg)