ELON, N.C. – Sophomores Josh Bonney and Drew Spradlin each
eclipsed the 20-point barrier for the second time this season as the Elon men’s
basketball team cruised to a 102-68 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham in
the Phoenix’s home opener at Alumni Gym on Friday night. Bonney led the team
for the fourth consecutive game, dumping in 23 points on 8-of-12 from the
field. Spradlin added 22 points behind the strength of three triples.
“We got better today,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny.
“It is always good to win, but more importantly we got better as a team and we
got better as the game went on. Our offense keeps making small steps forward,
and while our defense missed some assignments in the early going, we improved,
contested shots and got steals.”
The Phoenix had four players in double figures as Devan
Carter poured in a season-high 17 points. In addition, Carter dished out three
assists and tied his career best with four steals. Junior Chris Long
contributed his highest output of the season with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Bonney also added to his team-leading assist numbers, passing for a career-best
nine assists in the contest. Adam Katz led the visitors with 20 points, hitting
6-of-12 field goals and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
Elon never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 7-0
advantage before FDU-Florham managed to get on the board. Spradlin netted eight
of the Phoenix’s first 12 points, converting on an old-fashioned three-point
play and hitting from downtown. A Long jumper capped a 14-4 Phoenix run to put
Elon up 18, 42-24, with 3:57 to play in the first half. Elon pushed its
advantage to 20 on an Adam Constantine dunk and went to the locker room leading
52-32.
Constantine opened the final half like he ended the first,
dunking on Elon’s opening possession as the Phoenix continued to dominate in the
paint. Elon scored 42 points in the paint compared to 24 by the Devils. Elon
scored nine straight as it built its lead to 31 at the 13-minute mark. The
Phoenix would see its lead grow to as many as 37, 97-60, before the end of the
contest. A free throw by rookie Brett Ervin, the first point of his collegiate
career, put Elon at the century mark for the first time since a triple-overtime
victory against UNC Greensboro in 2004. The 102 points were the most in a
regulation game since Elon scored 112 in a win over Averett on December 5,
1996.
For the game, Elon shot an impressive 60.9 percent from the
field, including 65.5 percent in the second half. The Phoenix took advantage of
26 Devil miscues, scoring 32 points of FDU-Florham’s turnovers.
Elon will be back on the road for the next two games,
beginning with a battle at Hofstra on Monday, November 23 in the first of two
consolation games in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament.
Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.