DURHAM, N.C. –
The Elon men’s basketball team struggled from the field and couldn’t overcome
the physical Charlotte frontcourt as the Phoenix fell, 75-61, to the 49ers in
the opening round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at Duke
University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium on Monday night. The loss was the first of
the year for the Phoenix (1-1) while Charlotte improved to 2-0 on the young
season.
“We are disappointed, but at the same time we put forth a
good effort for the entire game,” stated Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “This
group has really bought into togetherness and the importance of being a team.
We didn’t surrender; we competed for 40 minutes. We’ll learn from this game and
get better because of it.”
Sophomore Josh Bonney led Elon for the second consecutive
game, scoring 15 points while adding five rebounds and a team-high four
assists. Senior Adam Constantine contributed 11 points and seven boards. Elon was
impressive on the glass with six players pulling down five or more rebounds as
the Phoenix outrebounded Charlotte, 51-44. Elon posted 19 offensive rebounds.
Charlotte’s Shamari Spears hit 10-of-17 for a game-high 23 points.
After shooting nearly 60 percent from the field in the
season opener, Elon had trouble getting its shots to fall against the Niners.
The Phoenix managed only nine buckets in the first 20 minutes of play,
connecting on 23.7 percent from the floor in the first half. Spears and Rashad Coleman
combined for Charlotte’s first 14 points and the 49ers jumped out to a 16-8
advantage at 12:12. Elon managed to cut the deficit in half as a Bonney jumper
made it 18-14 with under eight minutes remaining in the half.
An alley-oop by Coleman ignited a 13-3 Charlotte run over
the next four minutes and the 49ers built a 14-point advantage, 31-17, with
2:19 left before the break. Charlotte took a 34-22 lead into the locker room.
The 49ers started the final half with a quick 9-2 run to
open up their biggest lead of the night, 43-24, at 18:03. Elon did not give in
and a Drew Spradlin triple pulled the Phoenix within 11, 49-38, with 14 minutes
to play.
Charlotte would go back on top by as many as 19 before Elon
outscored the 49ers 14-5 over a five-minute span to make it a 10-point game,
69-59, with just under three minutes remaining. Charlotte got the necessary
stops to earn the 75-61 victory.
For the game, Elon shot 31.1 percent (23-74) while Charlotte
connected on 41.8 percent (28-67) of its field goals. Neither team shot well
from beyond the arc — Elon managed 8-of-25 (32.0) and Charlotte hit 6-of-22
(27.3). Charlotte’s big men made their presence felt in the lane, blocking 15
shots, including seven swats by center Phil Jones.
-- ELON --