Game Notes

ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s basketball team will be looking to avenge last year’s Southern Conference Tournament defeat when it goes head-to-head with the Western Carolina Catamounts on Thursday, January 13 at 7 p.m. in the Ramsey Center. The Phoenix has won four of its last five games, including three straight on the road. Elon and WCU split the season series last year before the Catamounts topped the Phoenix in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.

Site: Cullowhee, N.C.
Arena: Ramsey Center
Radio: WPCM 920 AM — Taylor Durham (play-by-play) and Dick Stewart (color)
Live Statistics: elonphoenix.com
Video Streaming: catamountsports.com
Series: Elon leads, 51-36

FREE THROWS
• This is the 102nd season of men’s basketball at Elon.
• The Phoenix made the move to Division I competition in the 1999-2000 season.
• Chris Long became the 33rd Elon player to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier, scoring 21 points at UNCG. Long has scored 1,005 points during his Elon career.
• Elon has won four of its last five games and three straight on the road.
• Through its first three SoCon games, Elon was being outrebounded by 13 rpg — in the last two league contests, the Phoenix has led on the glass by 16 rpg.
• Elon has done a good job defending the three-point shot as of late. Elon’s last five opponents are a combined 25-of-82 (.305) from long range.
• Defensively, Elon has held three of its last four opponents to under 40 percent shooting. In the last two SoCon games, Elon opponents are averaging only 33.6 percent from the field.
• Rookie Lucas Troutman has had at least one block in the last six contests. He has a team-best 20 blocks this season.
• Drew Spradlin is averaging 18.0 ppg against SoCon opponents this year — for his career he averages 10.3 ppg and has hit 60 three-pointers against league foes.
• Chris Long is third on Elon’s all-time career assists list with 415 helpers. He needs 19 assists to take over second place.
• Elon’s four scholarship freshmen are all averaging double-figure minutes.

LAST TIME OUT
• Chris Long scored 21 points on 16-of-20 free throws — the guard has scored 20 or more points in three of the last four games.
• Drew Spradlin had an efficient night, hitting 8-of-12 field goals for 18 points. He has scored in double figures in five straight games.
• Elon got to the line a season-high 38 times and owned the glass, 46-33.
• The Phoenix held its second straight opponent to under 36 percent shooting.

ELON VS. WESTERN CAROLINA
• Elon and Western Carolina met three times last year, splitting the regular-season series and then meeting in the league tournament where WCU earned the win.
• The regular-season games were decided by a combined seven points as each team won on its home court.
• Since Elon has been a member of the SoCon, the Phoenix is 1-6 at Western Carolina — its lone win coming on Jan. 22, 2007, 77-64.
• The Catamounts have also won two straight league games.