Box Score Postgame Press Conference
ELON, N.C. – Tanner Samson and
Lucas Troutman provided the one-two punch the Elon University men's basketball team needed on Tuesday night, Dec. 3, inside Alumni Gym, as the duo led the Phoenix to an 87-70 victory over the visiting VMI Keydets.
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Samson poured in a career-high 23 points and grabbed a career best nine boards in the victory, while Troutman ended the evening with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.
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"It feels really good to get a win going into exams," said Elon head coach
Matt Matheny. "We defended very well tonight against a good VMI team. We've had a tough stretch with a lot of games and I think we're continuing to get better as the season progresses."
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Elon (5-4) stifled VMI (4-4) defensively for most of the game, holding the Keydets well below their 88 points per-game season average and to 39 percent shooting from the field. QJ Peterson, who came into tonight averaging 22.4 points per game, scored 14 points.
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As a team, the Phoenix shot 57 percent from the field after knocking down 30-of-53 from the field. Elon has shot 50 percent or better in five games this season. The Phoenix knocked down 6-of-18 from long range, five of which came off the hot hand of Samson.
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Elon outrebounded VMI, 37-35, to improve to 3-1 this season when it wins the battle on the glass.
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Back-to-back fast-break layups by the Phoenix forced a VMI timeout with 3:42 remaining in the first half following a
Sebastian Koch tap in off a
Luke Eddy miss that gave Elon a 35-21 lead.
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Elon led by as many as 16 points in the opening frame, carrying a 42-31 into the locker room at intermission. Despite shooting an uncharacteristic 22 percent (2-of-9) from long distance in the first half, overall, the Phoenix shot 55 percent in the first 20 minutes.
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The Keydets managed to narrow the gap to six points early in the second period, but Elon jumped out to a 13-point lead with 14:54 to play after a Samson triple in the corner to make it a 52-39 game.
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Elon's lead escalated quickly from that point forward, as a VMI technical foul on head coach Duggar Baucom led to two Samson free throws and make from long distance on the free possession, giving the Phoenix a 57-39 advantage.
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The maroon and gold increased its lead to as many as 21 points in the second session, as the Keydets could pull no closer than 15 down the stretch.
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Following a 10-day break for final exams, the Phoenix returns to action on Friday, Dec. 13, in Boulder, Colo., versus the University of Colorado. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (ET) at the Coors Events Center and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
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-- ELON --