On Saturday afternoon, the Elon University Phoenix (5-13, 1-4 CAA) got a huge win over the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks (5-14, 0-6 CAA), 80-63.
The Phoenix and the Seahawks came in today both looking for its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) win, with both teams sitting in the last two spots of the CAA table. Elon came out hungry and ready to win, and the Seahawks came out ready to end a 10-game losing streak.
The Phoenix came out strong and fast to match the Seahawks intensity, who started out with a full-court press right off the bat. The Phoenix was able to break it and jump out with a deep three from freshman guard Zac Ervin, which would spark a great night for him.
Ervin would hit three three-pointers within the first five minutes to give the Phoenix a quick 10-7 lead against the Seahawks.
“We have a lot of good shooters,” Ervin said. “Coach believes in everybody shooting the ball on our team”
With less than three minutes in the first half, the Phoenix lost the lead to the Seahawks with a score of 31-27. The Phoenix couldn’t get the lead back before halftime and would trail 38-33. Ervin led with 16 points, just one point shy of his season best of 17.
The Phoenix came out of the half looking to regain the lead. The Phoenix come out 3-3 from beyond the arc, with contributions from Ervin as well as freshmen guards Hunter McIntosh and Hunter Woods. The Phoenix capitalized on multiple Seahawk turnovers to regain the lead 44-43.
With five minutes left to play, the Phoenix would increase its lead to 20 points. Zac Ervin still had his foot on the gas, climbing up to his game total of 27 points.
The rest of the Phoenix continued that momentum and would claim its first CAA win.
“We came out and executed much better and defended. I mean that’s who we gotta be,” head coach Mike Schrage said.
The Phoenix next game will be against Drexel University (10-8, 3-2 CAA) on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.