Call ‘em champs.
Elon University junior forward Ryley Beaumont hit a layup in the paint with eight seconds remaining to give the Phoenix a 63-62 victory over Samford University Thursday night, Feb. 21. The victory clinched the Southern Conference North Division title for the Phoenix, its first since 2005-2006.
The Phoenix (19-8, 12-3 SoCon) stormed out to an 18-5 lead early in the first half and was up 38-30 at the break. But Samford (10-18, 8-7 SoCon) went on a 13-3 run to take a 43-41 advantage with 15:03 left in the second half. Elon pushed back and had a six-point lead with 5:48 left after a three-pointer from junior guard Jack Isenbarger put the Phoenix up 59-53.
Samford guard Raijon Kelly hit a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 62-61 lead with 26 seconds remaining, but Elon junior guard Sebastian Koch found Beaumont down low for the winning bucket.
Isenbarger led the Phoenix with 15 points and had three assists. Beaumont was 7-of-13 from the field and had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman guard Tanner Samson had 11 points.
Still coming back from injury, Elon junior forward Lucas Troutman had six points and one rebound in 13 minutes of game time.
The Bulldogs got a game-high 24 points from guard Clide Geffrard, Jr. on 9-of-13 shooting (6-of-8 from three-point range). Kelly had 17 points and 11 assists while freshman forward Tim Williams had 16 points and eight rebounds.
The Phoenix will face the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Saturday night, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to reach 20 wins for the first time since the 1987-88 season.