The Elon University men’s basketball team won its 11th straight matchup against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro on Saturday, Dec. 20, 71-64.
Junior guard Tanner Samson led the team with 21 points and three steals while freshman guard Elijah Bryant also had a stellar performance, scoring 20 points in 20 minutes.
But the Phoenix lost sophomore guard and leading scorer Luke Eddy when he left the game after falling hard on his knee in the first half. He was helped off the court on crutches.
Elon shot 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. Bryant made both of his attempts from beyond the arc, and Samson added two of his own.
The Phoenix outrebounded the Spartans throughout the game, grabbing 24 boards defensively. Senior forward Ryan Winters led the team with six rebounds, five of which came on the defensive end.
Both teams jockeyed to get ahead in the first half, trading the lead five times. Elon took the decisive lead with 7:45 remaining in the first half when Bryant buried a 3-pointer to send the Phoenix into the locker room at the half leading 35-29.
Elon capitalized on Spartans turnovers, scoring 24 points total. UNCG struggled to find a rhythm on offense, shooting 38 percent from the floor and making just nine field goals in the second half.
The Phoenix passed the ball effectively throughout the game as well. Senior guard Austin Hamilton finished with four assists to lead the team.
Elon was up by as many as 15 in the second half and managed to hold off the Spartans to win by seven.
Elon travels to Kennesaw, Ga. on Dec. 22 to face Kennesaw State University at 3 p.m.