The Elon Phoenix men’s basketball team went into Cullowhee, N.C., Thursday night and took care of their proverbial business, defeating the Western Carolina Catamounts 71-63.

The Phoenix (10-9 overall, 5-3 Southern Conference) got 26 points and six rebounds from sophomore guard Jack Isenbarger, who has replaced senior guard Drew Spradlin in the starting lineup and produced, averaging 20 points, five rebounds and three assists in the past three contests for Elon.

His best game of the season came against the Catamounts (9-12, 3-5 SoCon), as he shot 7-13 from the field and 7-8 from the free-throw line. Isenbarger hit five threes, leading Elon’s 47% accuracy from behind the arc.

Sophomore guard Sebastian Koch chipped in 12 points and six rebounds while freshman guard Austin Hamilton continued his stellar play with 13 points and five assists.

Spradlin had seven points and five rebounds in his third game coming off the bench. Sophomore forward Ryley Beaumont had six points and ten rebounds. Fellow sophomore forward Lucas Troutman had a season-low five points and seven boards.

Plain and simple, this was a game the Phoenix needed to win. Appalachian State University and Western Carolina were both a win away from tying Elon at the top of the North Division of the SoCon. With App State’s loss to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro last night, Elon holds a half game lead over UNCG, whose 7-14 overall record is the second-worst in the SoCon but 5-4 conference record is good for second in the North.

This is the current “State of the Phoenix” going into Saturday afternoon’s game at App State in Boone, N.C.

I had the opportunity to watch App State take on the University of North Carolina Dec. 17, a game in which the Heels dominated the Mountaineers early. But led by senior guard Omar Carter’s 21 points and seven, head coach Jason Capel’s squad rallied to fall 97-82. The Mountaineers have gone 4-5 since that game.

Appalachian plays a quick game of basketball with incredible depth. Along with Carter, who came off the bench in the UNC game, freshman guard Mike Neal (15 points, three assists), freshman guard Tab Hamilton (11 points) and senior forward Andre Williamson (11 points, three rebounds) scored in double-digits against the dangerous Heels. But Carter, who continues to come off the bench, was the preseason pick for SoCon Player of the Year and has not backed down, leading the Mountaineers with 13.5 points per game.

Elon was less successful against North Carolina, falling 100-62 Dec. 29. Lucas Troutman had 11 points and ten rebounds and Sebastian Koch had 17 points.

The Phoenix will have to rebound well against the Mountaineers. Big men Williamson (7.0 rpg) and redshirt senior center Isaac Butts (5.0 rpg) are among the SoCon’s leading rebounders, along with Carter. The trio of Beaumont, Troutman and Koch will need to be big in the paint for Elon. A stat that continues to be evidence of who Elon men’s basketball really is: In all ten wins, Elon has shot better than their opponents, but has only out-rebounded their foes three times.

It continues to be the key stat for head coach Matt Matheny’s squad. Elon is last in rebounding margin (-4/game) and rebounding defense (giving up 41.7 rpg).

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

ELON: So. G Jack Isenbarger (10.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Fr. G Austin Hamilton (10.8 ppg, 3.2 apg), So. G Sebastian Koch (8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), So. F Ryley Beaumont (6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), So. F Lucas Troutman (12.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg)

ASU: Fr. G Tab Hamilton (7.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg), Fr. G Mike Neal (6.5 ppg, 3.1 apg), Jr. F Nathan Healy (3.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Jr. F Jamaal Trice (11.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Sr. F Andre Williamson (10.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg)

JUMP SHOTS

  • Elon is 7-1 when scoring 70 or more points and 3-8 when scoring 69 points or less.
  • The last time Elon began conference play at 5-3 was the 2007-2008 season, in which the Phoenix finished 9-11 in the SoCon but advanced to the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament, where they lost to No. 23 Davidson College, who went on to win three NCAA Tournament games.
  • Appalachian State assistant coach Justin Gainey was an assistant coach for the Phoenix.
  • The Phoenix has not defeated the Mountaineers since Feb. 14, 2008, dropping six straight.
  • The teams scoring average is nearly identical. Elon is averaging 68.4 ppg while the Mountaineers are scoring 68.2 ppg.
  • In Southern Conference news, College of Charleston men’s basketball head coach Bobby Cremins is expected to resign or announce a leave of absence tonight, according to a tweet from Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier sports columnist Gene Sapakoff. Sapakoff also tweeted that his replacement will be current assistant Mark Byington.