ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's basketball returns to action for the first time in 2022 when it travels to Charleston, S.C. for a 4 p.m. matchup with Charleston on Sunday, Jan. 9.
 
COVERAGE
- Listen to the Elon Sports Network from Learfield's coverage on The Varsity Network app.
- Longtime voice of the Phoenix, Taylor Durham, will be on the call with coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET with the Carter and Smith Group Countdown to tipoff.
- Elon's game against Charleston will be streamed live on FloSports.
- Live Stats are available and can be found by visiting https://elonstats.com.
 
THE MATCHUP
- Friday afternoon marks the 33^rd meeting between Elon and Charleston.
- The Phoenix currently trails in the all-time series 9-23.
- In the most recent meeting between the two programs, Elon defeated Charleston, 66-55, in Charleston on Feb. 14, 2021. The win ignited a seven-game winning streak that led the Phoenix all the way to the CAA Tournament Championship game for the first time in program history.
- Hunter McIntosh led the way for the Phoenix, dropping 20 points, four rebounds and three assists on the night. Darius Burford added eight points and six rebounds, while Hunter Woods chipped in five points, five rebounds and four assists in the win.

SCOUTING ELON
- Former CAA All-Rookie honoree Darius Burford is currently leading the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.8 spg), while being third on the team in rebounding (4.1 rpg). Burford has scored in double figures eight times this season and has nabbed at least two steals in six of his last eight games.
- Junior guard and Preseason All-CAA First Team honoree Hunter McIntosh, ranks second the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game, adding 2.9 assists per contest as well. McIntosh has scored in double figures in 41 career games, including eight times this season.
- Torrence Watson is third on the team in scoring 10.7 points per game, adding 2.8 rebounds per contest as well. Watson has gotten to the charity stripe a team-high 52 times this season, knocking down 45 of his attempts for an 86.5 free throw percentage.
- Junior forward Zac Ervin is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.7 points per game, adding 4.0 rebounds per contest. Ervin has knocked down 30 threes while shooting at a 39.5 percent clip from long distance so far this season.
- Junior forward Hunter Woods is chipping in 7.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.7 minutes through 13 games this season. Woods is also currently second on the team in steals this season with 20 total.
- Sophomore center Michael Graham ranks fifth on the team in scoring (7.5 ppg), while leading the team in rebounding at 6.0 rpg. Graham has registered two double-doubles this season after his 13 point, 15 rebound effort against Winthrop on Dec. 15.
- Senior forward Chuck Hannah is averaging 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game since returning from injury against High Point.
- Freshman center Sam Sherry has gotten his Elon career off to a solid start, averaging 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in just over eight minutes of action per game.
- The Phoenix moved to 4-2 at Schar Center and 1-0 in CAA play this season with a win over Northeastern. The game marked the first time since the 2017-18 season that the Phoenix opened conference play with a win.
- Elon set a program record for points at Schar Center (107), threes made (20) and assists (27) in its home opener against Randolph.
- Seniors Chuck Hannah and Kris Wooten will serve as the team captains for the 2021-22 season.
- This season marks the third for Head Coach Mike Schrage at the helm of the Elon program.
 
SCOUTING CHARLESTON
- Charleston enters the contest with an 8-5 overall record after falling to Delaware, 67-66, in its most recent contest. John Meeks led the Cougars in the contest, dropping 17 points, five rebounds and two steals. Brenden Tucker added 15 points and two assists, while Osinachi Smart chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds.
- Pat Kelsey is in the midst of his first season at the helm of the Charleston program. Kelsey spent nine years as the head coach at Winthrop prior to leading the Cougars program, compiling a 186-95 overall record.
- The Cougars are led by John Meeks who leads the team in scoring at 14.4 ppg, adding 5.0 rpg. Charleston has also gotten contributions from Reyne Smith (13.0 ppg and 2.8 rpg) and Brenden Tucker (11.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg) early on this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
- Elon led wire-to-wire, as the Phoenix opened CAA play with a 79-62 victory over Northeastern on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Schar Center.
- Darius Burford led the charge for the Phoenix, dropping a season-high 23 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Burford also added five rebounds, three assists and three steals in his 34 minutes of action. The sophomore has now registered at least 10 points and two steals in five games this season.
- Hunter McIntosh finished with a season-high 20 points, including 14 in the second half, adding five rebounds in a team-high 38 minutes. McIntosh matched a career-high with six triples in the contest, shooting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. The effort also marked the eighth double-figure scoring outing for the junior this season.
- Michael Graham filled out the stat sheet for Elon, chipping in 10 points and a season-high four blocks while matching career-highs in assists (2) and steals (2). The performance was the third 10+ points, 4+ rebounds outing for the sophomore in his last four games.
- Jerald Gillens-Butler added 10 points, while setting new season-highs in rebounds (7), assists (3) and minutes (25). Gillens-Butler has posted at least 10 points and five rebounds in two of his last three games.
- Zac Ervin posted eight points and three rebounds in 21 minutes, while Chuck Hannah logged five points, four rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. Kris Wooten rounded out the scoring for the Phoenix, finishing the night with three points, five rebounds and three assists.
- Elon scored 24 points in the paint, 15 points off turnovers and 12 second chance points.
- The Phoenix allowed season-lows in field goal percentage (34.0), three-point percentage (22.7) and points in a half (24 – 1^st half).
- Elon's 12 made threes tonight were the most since the team made 12 against High Point earlier this season.
- Elon never trailed, leading by as much as 22 en route to the win.
 
THE FACES OF 2021-22
- Elon returns four starters in Chuck Hannah, Hunter Woods, All-CAA Second Team honoree Hunter McIntosh and CAA All-Rookie selection Darius Burford.
- Other returnees for the Phoenix includes seniors Jerald Gillens-Butler, Kris Wooten and Charlie Mendys, juniors Ben Daugherty and Zac Ervin, and sophomores Michael Graham and JaDun Michael.
-Additionally, the maroon and gold welcomes five newcomers to the squad in Mizzou transfer Torrence Watson, Mississippi State transfer Andrew Junkin and freshmen RJ Noord, Sam Sherry and Reece Clark.
 
CAA PRESEASON POLL
- The Colonial Athletic Association announced its preseason poll on Thursday, Oct. 28, with Elon tabbed to finish sixth.
- The Phoenix had two student-athletes earn preseason all-conference honors in Hunter McIntosh (1st Team) and Jerald Gillens-Butler (Honorable Mention).
- Elon earned a total of 202 points in the poll, including one first-place vote.
- Delaware was chosen as the preseason favorite with 296 points and 19 first-place votes, followed by Northeastern with 246 points and seven first-place votes. Drexel (234 points; five first-place votes), James Madison (224 points, three first-place votes) and Hofstra (211 points; one first-place vote) rounded out the top five.
 
COMING SOON
- Elon returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 9, when it travels to Charleston, S.C. for a matchup with Charleston.
- The Phoenix will then remain on the road for a Jan. 12 contest against UNCW in Wilmington, N.C.
- Elon's returns home on Jan. 15, when it hosts Towson at Schar Center at 4 p.m. The Phoenix will then welcome JMU to Schar Center for a 4 p.m. matchup with the Dukes on Jan. 17.