BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A disappointing week came to a disappointing close for the Elon University men’s basketball team, as the Phoenix trailed nearly the entire way to a 62-59 defeat at the hands of Samford University.
Down three with 5.5 seconds remaining, Elon senior guard Sebastian Koch missed an off-balanced three-pointer from the right wing in the waning moments to seal the win for the host Bulldogs. The loss is Elon’s third straight following a groundbreaking win on the road at Davidson College on Jan. 16.
The Phoenix took a 2-0 lead to open the game, but never led again. Samford tallied 13 points in transition, whereas Elon had trouble breaking into the zone pressure defense and the 2-3 zone that the Bulldogs were running. Elon made 10 shots from three-point range, but allowed Samford to shoot 52.3 percent (23 of 44) from the field.
After Elon’s 2-0 lead, Samford ran off to build a 15-4 advantage and force a Phoenix timeout with 13:12 in the first half. Elon cut the lead to four a number of times, much thanks to superb shooting from beyond the arc by sophomore guard Tanner Samson and senior guard Jack Isenbarger. Samson knocked one down from long distance to cut the Bulldogs lead to 24-23 with 7:43 in the half, but that was as close as the Phoenix would get in the first half.
At the break, Samford held a 34-27 lead.
The Bulldogs took a 13 point lead with 15:52 left in the second half, causing Elon coach Matt Matheny to burn a timeout. The Phoenix got within five at the 2:38 mark, but it was a four-point play by Isenbarger with 1:55 to play that brought the Samford lead down to 60-59. Samford junior forward Tyler Hood sank two free throws with 1:39 left that became the final scoring of the game.
Elon saw Samson, Isenbarger, and Koch all miss from three-point range in the final 1:12 of the game. The Phoenix failed to capitalize on a Samford turnover with 36 seconds on the clock.
The Phoenix falls to 3-3 in Southern Conference play, with losses to Western Carolina University and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga also on its record. Elon also lost to No. 15 University of Massachusetts, 84-74, on Jan. 18.
Isenbarger led Elon with 16 points, making 5 of 13 shots – all five being from beyond the arc. Senior forward Ryley Beaumont added 13 points. Senior forward Lucas Troutman was shut down in the post, recording just two rebounds and eight points on 1 of 4 shooting.
Elon falls below .500 at 10-11 overall. Next on the docket is a home game in Alumni Gym against Western Carolina University on Jan. 30.