Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Sophomore Nik Cochran exploded for a career-high 29 points — 24 in the second half — to help the host Davidson Wildcats pull out an 83-75 victory over the Elon Phoenix in a physical Southern Conference battle at Belk Arena on Thursday night. The guard came off the bench and nailed four critical late game three-pointers to help push the ‘Cats (16-13, 9-8) over the hump. Elon (12-16, 6-11) had won two straight against Davidson prior to tonight’s contest.

Neither team ever held a double-figure lead as the majority of the game was played with only a one-point margin. After a Cochran three ball produced the game’s eighth tie of the evening, knotting the score at 52 with 10:22 on the clock, Davidson managed a stop on the defensive end of the floor. Wildcat senior JP Kuhlman built off the energy and hit all parts of the rim on a triple that gave the ‘Cats a 55-52 advantage.

Elon would narrow the gap to a point twice before the Cochran show continued with another bucket from beyond the arc in the waning seconds of the shot clock to stretch the home team’s lead to four, 60-56, with 8:08 to play. With 6:31 remaining and Davidson still holding a four-point edge, Kuhlman dropped a dagger from downtown to make the lead seven and shift momentum the ‘Cats way.

The Phoenix remained undeterred and chipped away at the lead. Senior Chris Long took over, forcing a turnover under the Elon basket and turning an old-fashioned three-point play to put his team within one, 67-66, at the 5:19 mark. Long poured in 27 points, including 22 in the final period.

Unfortunately, Cochran wasn’t finished as the guard scored seven of Davidson’s next nine points, capped with a long ball with 2:01 on the clock to give the Wildcats a 76-69 advantage. It became a free throw contest as Elon tried to extend the game. Davidson nailed 7-of-8, six coming from Cochran, to close out the victory.

“I thought we played our hearts out and we competed in what was a great college basketball game,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny, who was making his first trip to Belk Arena since being hired at Elon. Matheny was a long-time assistant for Davidson head coach Bob McKillop.

“Rebounding, getting after loose balls and defensive penetration was really the difference in the game. These are two teams playing similar styles of basketball. I thought we stepped up and faced adversity on several occasions during the game and I am proud of the way we competed.”

Long hit 8-of-13 field goals and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Elon’s point guard has scored 57 points in the last two games. Long added five rebounds to his line. Lucas Troutman gave the Phoenix a lift off the bench, scoring 16 points, grabbing five boards and swatting two shots. Senior Scott Grable scored all 10 of his points in the opening half.

Kuhlman was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 22 points. Davidson got a game-high six rebounds from De’Mon Brooks as the Wildcats held a decisive 38-27 advantage on the glass.

After hitting 16 three-pointers in Saturday’s game against UNCG, Elon managed only four baskets from long range. The Phoenix, which ranks fourth in the nation with 9.4 three-pointers a game, attempted only 13 shots from deep. Davidson drained nine treys, including 6-of-12 in the second period.

The first half stat sheet looked eerily similar from top to bottom as the teams shot nearly the same percentage from the field and were both 8-of-12 from the stripe. Elon jumped out to a 7-1 advantage to begin the game, but saw starters Drew Spradlin and Ryley Beaumont be forced to the bench due to foul trouble within the first three minutes of the game.

Davidson scored seven unanswered and from there it became a back-and-fourth battle for the rest of the half. Neither team led by more than three and the squads headed to the locker room with the Wildcats leading, 37-36.

Elon will play its regular-season finale on the road at Georgia Southern on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Phoenix’s magic number is one to lock in the No. 4 seed in the North Division for the upcoming league tournament. With a win or a UNCG loss, Elon will secure the No. 4 seed.