Box Score Matt Matheny Postgame

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ELON, N.C. – Davidson's Brian Sullivan and De'Mon Brooks helped the hot-shooting Wildcats spoil Elon's Senior Night after downing the Phoenix 86-69 on Saturday, March 1, in a sold out Alumni Gym.
 
Elon drops to 18-13 (11-5 Southern Conference) with the setback, while first-place Davidson improves to 19-11 (15-1 Southern Conference) with the win. With the loss, Elon earns the No. 4 seed in next week's Southern Conference Tournament in Asheville, N.C. The Phoenix will open play against Western Carolina on Saturday, March 8, at 2:30 p.m.
 
"Tonight was disappointing for a number of reasons," said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. "We didn't play particularly well, but a lot of credit needs to go to Davidson. They're a great team and played efficiently from start to finish."
 
Sullivan scored a game-high 26 points, while Brooks ended the night with 24 for Davidson, who shot a blistering 62 percent (31-of-50) from the field on the night.
 
Elon put four in double figures, led by Ryley Beaumont's 19 points. Lucas Troutman and Tanner Samson added 12 for the Phoenix, while Austin Hamilton ended the evening with 10 points, as the Phoenix shot 45 percent from the field.
 
The Wildcats led by as many as 12 in the opening frame, as Elon trailed 38-28 at the half. Davidson had the hot hand in the first 20 minutes, knocking down 60 percent from the field on 12-of-20 field goal attempts. The maroon and gold struggled to find a rhythm, going 9-of-23 in the first half on 9-of-23 field goal attempts, including a 1-of-7 clip from long range.
 
Chris Czerapowicz pushed Davidson's lead to 17 points early in the second period after connecting from long range on a contested three to put Elon behind 48-31. Brooks made it an 18-point spread with 14:53 left after going up and under for a layup to make it a 54-36 game.
 
Davidson led by as many as 29 points in the final 20 minutes to hand Elon only its second loss in its last 10 games.
 
Tonight's crowd of 1,871 marks the largest in Alumni Gym during Matheny's tenure. It is the 13th sellout over the last five years.
 
Next Saturday's meeting against WCU in Asheville marks the third this season. Elon split the season series with the Catamounts.