Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Keegan Bell scored 23 points and the visiting Chattanooga Mocs crashed the glass to pull out the 71-65 victory over the Elon Phoenix in a Southern Conference battle at Alumni Gym on Friday night. Elon fell to 4-6 on the year, 0-3 in league action. Chattanooga remained unbeaten in the SoCon at 3-0, moving to 5-6 overall.

Chattanooga was dominating on the glass, outrebounding Elon 48-31 and scoring 24 points in the paint compared to only 10 by the Phoenix. DeAntre Jefferson had 10 boards and six UTC players had five or more rebounds. Jack Isenbarger was the lone Phoenix in double figures with 22 points on 6-of-11 from three-point territory. Elon’s Drew Spradlin tied his career high with 10 rebounds in the contest.

Holding a slight 35-33 advantage at the break, Elon struggled from the field in the final 20 minutes of action. The lead changed hands eight times in the first eight minutes, with the Phoenix still clinging to a 51-46 lead with 12:12 remaining. The Mocs erased the deficit and went on top 52-51 as Elon went five minutes without a field goal.

An Isenbarger bucket finally ended the drought at 7:29, but the 53-52 lead would be short-lived as another dry spell from the field allowed UTC to pull ahead, 61-55, with 3:42 to go. Elon netted only one field goal during the nine-minute stretch, but the defensive effort kept the Phoenix in the contest.

A Chris Long triple trimmed the advantage to three, 61-58, but Elon would climb no closer. While the Mocs shot only 59 percent from the free throw line for the game, Chattanooga connected on 8-of-9 from the stripe down the stretch to stay undefeated in conference action.

Elon shot only 37 percent in the second half, compared to 52 percent by the visitors. The Mocs turned the ball over 17 times in the contest, but the Phoenix converted the miscues into only eight points.

In the opening half, Isenbarger hit four three-pointers and scored 12 of the Phoenix’s first 16 points as Elon jumped on top 16-11 with 11:28 on the clock. Despite some early foul trouble, Elon managed to push its advantage to 10, 26-16, on a Brett Ervin put-back at 7:24. A quick 7-0 run by Chattanooga was extended to 17-9 over the remainder of the half and Elon went into the locker room up only two, 35-33.

Elon has a quick turnaround as the Phoenix will take on the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils on Monday, December 20 at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium.