ELON, N.C. – Elon University men's basketball returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 17, when it hosts Delaware in a 7 p.m. matchup at Schar Center.
 
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 6:30 p.m. ET with the Carter and Smith Group Countdown to tipoff.
- Elon's game against Delaware will be streamed live on FloSports.
- Live Stats are available and can be found by visiting https://elonstats.com.
 
THE MATCHUP
- Thursday night marks the 18^th meeting between Elon and Delaware.
- The Phoenix currently trails the Blue Hens in the all-time series, 9-8.
- In the most recent meeting between the two programs on March 8, 2021, Elon's comeback attempt fell just short, 80-77, against Delaware on Jan. 22.
- Torrence Watson led the charge for the Phoenix, dropping 20 points, four rebounds and three steals, while shooting at a 6-of-11 mark from the field.
- Michael Graham finished with a then career-high 19 points, adding 11 rebounds and a block in his 31 minutes of action, while Darius Burford chipped in 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 32 minutes. 
- Hunter McIntosh and Chuck Hannah combined for 14 points, six assists and three rebounds in the loss. 

SCOUTING ELON
- Junior guard and Preseason All-CAA First Team honoree Hunter McIntosh leads the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game, adding 2.9 assists per contest. McIntosh has scored in double figures in 51 career games, including 17 times this season. He currently ranks in the sixth in the conference in scoring at 14.8 ppg through 14 CAA contests this year. Against JMU on Feb. 10, McIntosh became the 46^th player in program history to score 1,000 points in his collegiate career.
- Former CAA All-Rookie honoree Darius Burford is currently second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), while leading the team in assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.6 spg). Burford also ranks on the team in rebounding (4.0 rpg). The sophomore has scored in double figures 16 times and has nabbed at least two steals in 11 games this season. His 13.9 ppg scoring average in conference play also ranks 10^th in the CAA.
- Sophomore center Michael Graham ranks third on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg), while leading the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg. Graham has registered six double doubles and scored at least 10 points in 14 games this season. His 11.1 ppg scoring output in conference play ranks in the top-25 while his 7.2 rebounding average ranks sixth.
- Torrence Watson is fourth on the team in scoring 9.2 points per game, adding 3.0 rebounds per contest as well. Watson has gotten to the charity stripe a team-high 61 times this season, knocking down 52 of his attempts for an 85.2 free throw percentage.
- Junior forward Zac Ervin is fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 7.6 points per game, adding 3.0 rebounds per contest. Ervin has knocked down 46 threes while shooting at a 37.4 percent clip from long distance so far this season.
- Junior forward Hunter Woods is chipping in 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24.7 minutes through 26 games this season. Woods is also currently second on the team in steals this season with 29 total.
- Senior forward Chuck Hannah is averaging 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game.
- Freshman center Sam Sherry has gotten his Elon career off to a solid start, averaging 2.7 points in just under nine minutes of action per game.
- Elon currently ranks in the top-2 in the CAA in 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.8 – 1^st), total threes made (240 – 2nd), threes made per game (8.9 – 2nd)  and total assists (354 – 2nd).
- 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 DELAWARE
- Delaware enters the contest with an 17-9 overall record and 8-5 record in CAA play after defeating James Madison, 81-60, in its most recent contest. Jameer Nelson Jr. led the Blue Hens in the contest, dropping 30 points, four rebounds and four assists. Jyare Davis added 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Kevin Anderson chipped in 12 points, five assists and four boards.
- Martin Ingelsby is in the midst of his sixth season at the helm of the Delaware program. Ingelsby spent 13 seasons as a member of the Notre Dame staff prior to taking over the Blue Hens program in 2016.
- The Blue Hens are led by Dylan Painter who leads the team in scoring at 13.8 ppg and rebounding at 7.7 rpg. Drexel has also gotten contributions from Jameer Nelson Jr. (13.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg) and Ryan Allen (12.0 ppg and 2.1 rpg) early on this season.

LAST TIME OUT
- Elon fell to Hofstra, 97-64, on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Schar Center.
- Hunter McIntosh led the charge for the Phoenix, dropping 19 points, two rebounds and two assists. The performance marked the 17^th double-digit scoring output for the junior this season and the 51^st overall in his career.
- Darius Burford added 10 points, three boards and two assists in 33 minutes. Burford has now scored 10+ points 16 times this season.
- Chuck Hannah matched season-highs in points (10), assists (3) and field goals (4). Hannah has now posted 10+ points in seven career contests, including twice this year.
- Andrew Junkin played his best game of the season, finishing with season-bests in points (8), rebounds (8), and field goals (3). His eight boards also led the team.
- Hunter Woods chipped in eight points and a team-high four assists in 24 minutes.
 
THE FACES OF 2021-22
- Elon returned three starters in Chuck Hannah, 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, Hunter Woods 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 is back in action on Feb. 17 when it hosts Delaware at Schar Center.
- Following that contest, the Phoenix will remain at home for a Feb. 19 matchup with Drexel on Senior Day.
- Elon will then round out the 2021-22 regular season against Hofstra (Feb. 24) and Northeastern (Feb. 26).