Flaws exposed, winning streak ended, players down to injury. The odds stacked against them, maybe?

But a win for the Elon University men's basketball team this past Saturday against Furman University, just two days after a seven-game victory streak was ended by Wofford College, was key.

The adversity still exists, however. A star player is questionable. And a foe that defeated them in an embarrassing loss Jan. 13 visits Alumni Gym tomorrow as the Phoenix takes on Appalachian State University in a Valentine's Day showdown at 7 p.m.

It's an important Southern Conference contest, as they all are this time of year. Elon is first in the North Division at 9-3, while Appalachian State is 2.5 games back at 7-6.

Recent history says the Phoenix has the edge in this matchup. Last season, Elon was embarrassed by the Mountaineers up in Boone Jan. 28, 2012, then returned the favor nine days later at home to cap a three-game winning streak.

But recent history is not what motivates the Phoenix.

"I just say we're looking to correct the things we did there, just like last year," said junior forward Ryley Beaumont, who scored a career-high 26 points in the first meeting. "We're not trying to blow a team out. We're just looking to play the best we can, play our game, work on the lack of toughness and being locked in and doing the right plays, basically why we lost at Wofford."

That Wofford loss was the first game that was not a W since the loss to Appalachian State. For Matheny, it showed some points his team can work on. And he credited lessons learned as the reason the Phoenix pulled out the comeback victory against Furman.

"I think it revealed, clearly as we reviewed the film and look back through the experience, some of the things that have been weak points for us," Matheny said. "It's something we've addressed, not only as coaches to players but as a program. And I think we've learned from it. For many of the reasons as we won the game Saturday can be directly associated with what we learned from Thursday night's experience."

A negative from Saturday's game was the injury to junior forward Lucas Troutman, the team's leading scorer. Troutman practiced Wednesday, but Matheny was not sure if he was going to play.

Against a speedy, tough Mountaineers team, whoever plays in the Troutman's place will need to be ready.

"We know what they're capable of," Matheny said of Appalachian State. "They outplayed us up there. What's important is that we are able, regardless of who's playing to defend them."

The Phoenix returns home for the first time in two weeks, something Beaumont is excited about.

"It's nice being home," he said. "There's something about having a fairly small gym that we get a good attendance at, so hopefully we'll get that tomorrow too. It's comforting at home."

Coming off the comeback win, Matheny said his players feel much more comfortable in those situations where they need to engineer a run while down. It's a part of the team's progression, he said, from the last time Elon faced the Mountaineers.

But remember, he said, Appalachian State has played a few games since then too.

"We were uncertain," Matheny said. "But we've gone through a stretch of games where we've gained confidence and we've played better. But we know regardless of how confident we are, we can still get knocked to the mat and we have to be able to respond to that. We've come a long way. They've come a long way too."

Leading to Tip-off

Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-13 overall, 7-6 SoCon) vs. Elon Phoenix (16-8, 9-3)

Leading Scorers: Appalachian State F Nathan Healy (14.9 ppg, 6th in SoCon); Elon F Lucas Troutman (15.1 ppg, T-4th in SoCon)

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Alumni Gym, Elon, N.C.