ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's basketball battled, but fell to Winthrop, 85-80, on Saturday, Dec. 21.
 
The Phoenix was led by senior guard Marcus Sheffield, who dropped a season-high 27 points, four rebounds and three assists on the evening. Freshman guard Hunter McIntosh chipped in a career-high 22 points in the loss.
 
Winthrop was led by Russell Jones Jr., who recorded a team-high 21 points in the contest.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
With Elon leading 10-8 early in the first half, Hunter Woods knocked down a tough pull-up jumper that sparked an 11-3 run. The spurt, which extended Elon's lead to 10, was capped by a Marcus Sheffield triple with just under 13 minutes to play before halftime.
 
After the Eagles fought back to make the score 24-22, Woods drained a three to ignite a quick 8-0 Phoenix run. Sheffield's reverse layup over a Winthrop defender put Elon back up by 10 with six minutes left in the opening half.
 
Elon entered the half leading 44-38.
 
The Phoenix came out firing in the second half, going on another 8-0 run after Winthrop cut the lead down to three. Sparked by a Sheffield driving layup, and followed by back-to-back threes by Zac Ervin and Hunter Woods, the run put Elon on top 52-41 with under 18 minutes to play.
 
After a quick run by Winthrop got them back into the game, both sides traded baskets the rest of the way. The Eagles wound up winning a close one, 85-80

NOTES
- The Phoenix shot 45.3 percent from the floor, including a 36.4 percent clip from beyond the arc.
- The Phoenix forced 11 Eagles turnovers and turned them in to 15 points on the other end

UP NEXT
Elon will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 30, when it tips off CAA play against William & Mary at 7 p.m. That game will be streamed on CBS Sports Network.