SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Elon University men's basketball team kept it close but Syracuse mounted a late run in the second half to defeat the Phoenix 66-55 on Saturday, Nov. 21, in the Carrier Dome.
 
Dainan Swoope led the way for Elon (2-2) with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists. Dmitri Thompson also scored in double figures with 10 points, while recording a team-high eight rebounds. Luke Eddy dished out a team-high five assists for the Phoenix.
 
The Orange (3-0) were led by Tyler Roberson who recorded a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Michael Gbinije (16) and Malachi Richardson (13) also scored in double-digits for Syracuse.
 
Highlights
Syracuse got off to a hot start with a 12-2 run over the first 5:49 to take a 12-2 lead with 14:11 left in the first half. The Phoenix responded well over the next 4:37 in the game with a 16-5 run to take their first lead of the game 20-19 after two free throws from Jack Anton.
 
A 10-0 run by the Orange gave them a 29-20 lead with 1:11 remaining in the first, but a Swoope three ball with 39 seconds left cut into Syracuse's lead 29-23 heading into the half.
 
Elon was re-energized to start the second half going on a 13-5 run in the first 5:38 taking a 36-34 lead after a Thompson layup off a feed from Christian Hairston at the 15:01 mark.
 
Trevor Cooney took back the Orange's lead with a three-pointer with 14:33 left in the game, but Eddy responded with a three of his own to give Elon the lead for the third time in the game 39-37 with 14:10 remaining.
 
The Orange mounted a big 21-6 run over the next six minutes to take their largest lead of the game by 13, 58-45, with 7:55 to go.
 
Elon fought its way back into the game cutting into Syracuse's lead 61-55 after a Tanner Samson three-pointer with 2:13 left, but clutch free throw shooting for the Orange in the final minutes proved to be enough to hold off the Phoenix 66-55.
 
Notes
- Elon took the lead three times in the game, including once in the first half and twice in the second half.
- In his first four games of his collegiate career, Dainan Swoope has scored in double figures in every game so far this season.
- Luke Eddy has led the team in assists in all four game this season after dishing out five against the Orange. 

Up Next
Elon is back in action at Alumni Gym on Thanksgiving hosting a Battle 4 Atlantis mainland tournament. The Phoenix face off against Mount St. Mary's to begin the tournament on Thursday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m. Depending on the result, Elon will either face Furman or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m.