Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Freshman Jack Isenbarger made a statement — a 29-point statement — in his Alumni Gym debut, leading the Elon men’s basketball team to a 99-68 victory over The College of New Jersey Lions in Elon’s home opener on Monday night. Junior guard Terrance Birdette, one of three Phoenix in double figures, also netted a career-best 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Elon improved to 1-1 on the young season while TCNJ moved to 0-1 on the year.

After two contests in the maroon and gold, Isenbarger is averaging 25.5 points and shooting 68 percent from the field. The rookie connected on 10-of-14 from the floor against the Lions, draining 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Senior guard Chris Long had a perfect night from the field, scoring 18 points on 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. He added five rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Lions were led by Al Matlock’s 21 points and Steven Siracusa’s double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.

“We did a good job scoring in transition tonight, getting our guys good looks,” commented Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “I feel like our guys know what shots to take in transition and tonight we were able to knock those down.”

Elon held a decided 49-31 advantage on the glass, with freshman Lucas Troutman grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Eleven players had at least one rebound in the game. The Phoenix scored 44 points in the paint, 32 coming in the opening 20 minutes of play.

After two-thirds of its first-half buckets came from three-point land in the season opener at South Carolina, Elon worked the lane against the Lions, scoring 22 points in the paint to begin the game. The Phoenix opened on a 14-3 streak, hitting 7-of-8 from the floor and not attempting a long ball until its ninth shot of the contest. Elon scored 32 of its 50 first-half points in the paint.

Holding a 21-12 advantage at 11:35, TCNJ went on a quick 9-2 run spanning two minutes to close the gap to two, 23-21. Then the Isenbarger show began as the rookie scored Elon’s next 12 points, including three consecutive triples, to put the Phoenix up 35-24 with 7:34 on the clock. The Isenbarger run sparked a 27-13 stretch to close the half and give Elon a 16-point advantage, 50-34, at the break. Isenbarger and Birdette scored all but two of the Phoenix’s points during the run.

Elon opened the final period on a 22-9 tear that stretched the home team’s lead to 30 points, 73-43, at the 12:25 mark. The Lions would never get closer than 17 and Elon allowed only two points in the final 4:51 to earn the 99-68 victory.

The Phoenix shot 53.7 percent (36-of-67) from the field, while holding TCNJ to only 37.5 percent (24-of-64). Elon also knocked down 11-of-23 from three-point territory — the Phoenix has hit 24 total treys in its first two contests.

Elon will face off against Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Wake Forest when it hosts the Demon Deacons in the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday, November 20 at 8 p.m.