CLINTON, S.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team could not overcome a late second-half rally by Presbyterian as the Phoenix suffered a 69-63 setback at the hands of the Blue Hose on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Templeton Center.
 
Sean Halloran had 15 points to lead the Phoenix (2-9) while Sam Sherry added 14 for the maroon and gold. Zac Ervin contributed with 11 points off the bench to conclude the double-digit scorers for Elon.
 
Owen McCormack had a game-high 21 points to pace Presbyterian (3-9) while also grabbing seven rebounds. Marquis Barnett added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Blue Hose.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix opened the game with a 12-0 lead. Max Mackinnon and Sherry each scored baskets before Halloran knocked down a three-pointer to make it 7-0. Another bucket by Mackinnon pushed it to 9-0 before the first media timeout. Three more free throws by Sherry and Torrence Watson put Elon ahead 12-0 before Presbyterian's first basket at the 13:37 mark.
• A three-pointer by John Bowen III with 12:57 left in the first half put the Phoenix up 13, 15-2, before the Blue Hose went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to come within one. A three-pointer by McCormack made it a one-point game, 17-16, with 6:53 left in the opening period.
• The Phoenix responded with a 12-1 run to go ahead 29-17 after a Halloran three with 3:51 left in the first half. The Blue Hose answered with an 8-2 run to make it a 31-25 capped by another McCormack three-pointer. Elon however held on to the lead going into the locker room after the first-half buzzer.
• The Blue Hose brought their deficit down to five, 38-33, to start the second half, but Elon came back with a 10-1 run to move in front 48-34 at the 13:50 mark. Ervin scored eight points during that stretch including a pair of three-pointers.
• Elon held a 10-point lead, 51-41, with 11:28 left in the game, but a 12-2 run by the Blue Hose led to a tie game at 53-all on after a jumper by Terrell Ard Jr. with 5:41 left in the game. The Phoenix pulled back ahead, 56-53, on a Sherry layup and a free throw by RJ Noord Jr. before a pair of free throws by McCormack brought Presbyterian within one with 4:12 remaining.
• Presbyterian took a 58-56 lead – its first of the game – on a three from McCormack with 2:19 left. The Blue Hose then expanded their lead on a jumper and a pair of free throws to move ahead 62-56, forcing Elon into a timeout with 1:53 left in the game.
• McCormack added two more free throws to make it a nine-point game for the Blue Hose with 54 seconds left, but the Phoenix extended the game with fouls to force Presbyterian to make free throws. A three-pointer by Ervin made it a five-point game with 18 seconds left, but that would be as close as the maroon and gold would get as the contest ended with the 69-63 final.
 
NOTES
• Halloran matched his career-high with four steals in the contest for the Phoenix. The Orlando, Fla., native has had three games this season with four steals and six total multi-steal contests.
• Mackinnon nearly had a double-double with eight points and a season-high six assists in the contest.
• Ervin's 11 points off the pine helped the Phoenix overtake the Blue Hose in bench points, 21-19.
• Watson returned to the Phoenix after missing the previous game due to injury. The St. Louis, native had seven points and three rebounds in 14 minutes.
• In a tale of two halves, the Phoenix held the Blue Hose to only 29.6 percent shooting in the opening half – the lowest percentage for an opponent all season. Presbyterian however shot 54.5 percent in the second period while outscoring the Phoenix 41-28.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix heads to the state of Indiana to face Valparaiso on Sunday, Dec. 18. That game is set for a 2 p.m. start and will air on ESPN+.