ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's basketball fell to Charleston, 73-65, on Thursday, Jan. 9.
 
The Phoenix was led by junior forward Simon Wright, who dropped a double-double, posting 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on the evening. Senior guard Marcus Sheffield chipped in 19 points, six rebounds and four assists.
 
Charleston was led by Grant Riller, who recorded a game-high 30 points and seven rebounds in the contest.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
With the score tied at 2-2 just under two minutes into the first half, Simon Wright scored his first points of the night to spark an 11-2 run over the next three minutes of play. Zac Ervin's triple followed by back-to-back threes by Marcus Sheffield and Hunter Woods put the Phoenix on top 13-4 early.
 
Late in the first half, with the game knotted up at 30, Marcus Sheffield got free on a beautiful back door cut and threw down a thunderous dunk to put Elon on top by two. Both sides traded buckets from there, with Elon taking a two-point lead into the break.


Trailing by six at the midway point of the second half, quick scores by Marcus Sheffield and Hunter McIntosh sparked a 7-0 run that put the Phoenix back on top. Elon regained the lead at 56-55 after Sheffield knocked down a triple to end the spurt.
 
Elon battled for the remainder of the contest, trading buckets with the Cougars over the next ten minutes of action. Despite the Phoenix's efforts, Charleston closed the game on a 4-0 run to take home a 73-65 victory.

NOTES
- The Phoenix shot 43.4 percent from the floor, including a 30.0 percent clip from beyond the arc.
- Elon held a 15-11 advantage in assists
- The Phoenix blocked three shots and recorded six steals in the contest
 

UP NEXT
Elon will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 11, to continue CAA play against UNCW. That matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Schar Center and will be streamed live on FloSports.