ELON COLLEGE, NC -- Joey Schwetz scored a career-high 22 points, and Morgan Bell grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds, as Elon College (8-12) won its third straight game by defeating visiting High Point University (8-11) by a 73-65 score on Saturday night.
The Fightin' Christians jumped out to a quick 25-9 lead in the ballgame, thanks to a pair of three-point baskets by Schwetz and seven points from Brendon Rowell. But High Point's Geordie Cullen scored 14 of his 22 first half points in the final 10:46 of the half to forge a 39-39 tie at halftime. The Panthers also used a 17-5 run to close the half, with Cullen providing 10 of those points.
High Point opened the second half by taking a 46-42 lead with 17:49 to play, but an 18-2 Elon run over the next 9:33 gave the Fightin' Christians a 60-48 lead with 8:16 left in the game. Schwetz contributed eight points during the run, including two three-pointers. The Panthers did get with 69-63 with 49 seconds remaining, but they got no closer.
Bell's 19 rebounds shattered his previous career-high of 11 boards, set earlier this season against Mt. Aloysius. He also scored 15 points, while Rowell added 16 for Elon, which won against High Point for the fifth straight time.
Cullen led High Point with a game-high 35 points, and he also had 12 rebounds. Scotty Hall had 15 points for the Panthers.
High Point (8-11)
Van Weerdhuizen 0-3, 0-0, 0, Kaukenas, 0-0, 0-0, 0, Cullen 16-21, 3-4, 35, Lee 1-6, 0-0, 3, Hall 5-11, 0-1, 15, Ignatavicius 2-5, 0-0, 5, Stewart 1-1, 0-0, 2, Anderson 1-2, 0-0, 3, Bennett 1-5, 0-0, 2. Totals 27-54, 3-5, 65.
Elon (8-12)
Thomas 3-7, 2-2, 8, Bell, 6-12, 3-4, 15, Rowell 5-14, 5-5, 16, Toole, 1-7, 0-0, 2, Schwetz 8-12, 0-0, 22, Gaskins 3-7, 0-1, 8, Hall 0-3, 0-0, 0, Whitaker 0-0, 0-0, 0, Dennis 1-5, 0-0, 2. Totals: 27-67, 10-12, 73.
Halftime: 39-39. 3-pt. FG: HPU 8-22 (Hall 5-9), Elon 9-25 (Schwetz 6-9). Rebounds: HPU 29 (Cullen 12), Elon 39 (Bell 19). Fouls: HPU 13, Elon 12. Assists: HPU 23 (Bennett 7), Elon 16 (Rowell 5). Turnovers: HPU 15, Elon 13. Blocks: HPU 4 (Cullen 3), Elon 1 (Bell 1). Steals: HPU 8 (Hall 3), Elon 6 (Rowell, Dennis 2). A-1078.
