ELON, N.C. – Matt Nowlin knocked down a career-high 23 points as Elon defeated Chattanooga 88-70 in the Southern Conference men’s basketball opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.
Nowlin (pictured right) connected on seven of 12 shots from the field, including six of nine attempts from beyond the arc as the Phoenix (4-5 overall, 1-0 Southern Conference) emerged victorious in the program’s first-ever Southern Conference contest. Teammate Steven Harvin (pictured left) sank six of 10 field goals attempts, including three of four three-point tries en route to equaling his career high with 21 points. He also dished out a career-high 10 assists.
The first half witnessed four ties and 10 lead changes. The Phoenix used a 13-2 spurt to transform a 15-14 deficit into a 27-17 advantage on a trey by Nowlin with 8:56 left in the opening stanza. The Mocs (5-4, 0-1) stormed back with a 16-4 run, claiming a 33-31 edge on a three-point field goal by Bryan Richardson with 4:25 remaining in the period. Chattanooga held on for a 41-40 lead at halftime.
Elon opened the second stanza with a 16-2 surge to take control for good at 56-43 on a jumper by Harvin with 13:44 on the clock. The Mocs made one last run, pulling within 61-56 on a pair of free throws by Jason Rogan to cap a 13-5 run with 9:59 to play. However, the Phoenix reeled off 15 of the contest’s next 21 points to secure a 76-62 advantage on a Harvin three-pointer at the 5:20 mark and the Mocs never moved within single digits the rest of the way.
Chattanooga edged Elon in points in the paint (20-18), but Elon finished with advantages in points off turnovers (22-18) and bench points (34-26). The Phoenix also beat the Mocs in field goal percentage (55.6-47.9), three-point field goal percentage (57.1-42.9), rebounds (31-24), assists (22-16), turnovers (15-21) and steals (8-7).
Elon’s Scottie Rice (18 points) and Jackson Atoyebi (10 points, team-high nine rebounds) turned in key performances. Chattanooga was led by Richardson (14 points), Rogan (13 points), Chris Brown (12 points), Alphonso Pugh (11 points, six rebounds) and Ray Trowell (nine points, five assists).
— ELON — Game Box Score
