From the opening possessions, it was clear that Elon University men’s basketball’s matchup against North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University would be set in the paint.
The Aggies attacked early, scoring on their first four possessions. Elon never had the chance to settle defensively, handing the Phoenix a lopsided defeat, which head coach Billy Taylor called “unacceptable” on the defensive end.
“We’ve had a lot of good moments with this team, and tonight was just not one of them,” Taylor said. “Our effort defensively was just unacceptable, attention to detail, discipline just really disappointing, and our lack of confidence in terms of the Interior, the rebounding was just unacceptable.”
Despite the defensive lapses, Elon managed to stay within striking distance early thanks to graduate student Chandler Cuthrell’s aggressive play. The forward drew multiple fouls, keeping the Phoenix alive with shots from the free-throw line.
Taylor said the Aggies’ constant pressure at the rim wreaked havoc for the Phoenix.
“It started with their ability to attack the paint,” Taylor said. “We just didn't take enough pride individually to play the kind of physicality that we need to have. We tried different guys, different combinations, and we just couldn't find the answer.”
A&T’s runs came in bursts. After Elon briefly grabbed the lead with a step-back 3-pointer from sophomore Bryson Cokley, the Aggies responded with a 7-0 run.
Junior Mujahiid Burton hit a 3-pointer of his own for A&T. He launched his shot a few steps from half-court, turning his back to the rim and celebrating before the ball even swished. The shot topped the Aggies’ run, foreshadowing the offensive dominance to come.
A&T entered halftime with a 53-41 lead.
Elon showed flashes of coming to life. Junior Randall Pettus III opened the second half with a flurry of 3-pointers to chip at the lead. Freshman Demarco Johnson also chipped in, sinking his 5th 3-pointer of the season.
Elon also opened the second half with graduate forward Kacper Klaczek, who missed the last seven games with an injury. Taylor said the veteran’s impact extends beyond scoring, even in a rusty return.
“It was good to have Kacper out there for some quality minutes,” Taylor said. “His mentality was a little amped up early, missed a couple shots he normally converts. But we need his physicality, his toughness, his rebounding. He does so much for our team, more than just making shots.”
Frustrations showed as Elon continued to struggle defensively. Klaczek fouled Burton as he sank an acrobatic lay-up. He then chirped at the referees afterward, giving the Aggies two more free throws in a swing that put the game out of reach for the Phoenix.
“For a fifth-year guy, it’s just an undisciplined moment,” Taylor said. “In tight games, you can’t make selfish decisions like that. You’ve got to have the discipline to walk away and move on to the next play.”
Elon trailed by double-digits for the majority of the second half. The Aggies didn’t miss a shot for the last 12 minutes of the game. The Phoenix offense turned sloppy, according to Taylor, forcing up bad shots and relying on 1-on-1 isolated possessions.
The Phoenix fell 102-82. It’s the first time Elon has let up 100 points this season, against an Aggies team that ranked 7th offensively in the CAA.
“We took this opportunity for granted tonight,” Taylor said. “We didn’t compete at a high level, and it bit us.”
With just three games remaining in the regular season, the loss comes at a critical stretch for Elon. The team now falls to a 14-14 record on the season, 6-9 in conference play. Taylor said that the focus now shifts to responding with urgency on the road.
“We’ve got to get back to our identity,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a lot in front of us. We’re still playing for seeding. We’ve got to bring a tough mentality, and go play in some tough places to win.”
Elon next plays at Towson University on Feb. 25 in Towson, Maryland.