Rock Hill, S.C. – The Elon men's basketball team (2-2) got off to a strong start in the Rock Hill Classic with an 86-72 victory over IUPUI (2-2) Friday night. The Phoenix knocked down 14 triples as a club and shot at a 50 percent clip from downtown in the win.
 
Freshman Nick Dorn poured in four triples in the second half and dropped a career-high 19 points in the win. LA Pratt also connected on four three-balls and secured a career-high 16 points. Fifth year Rob Higgins collected 10 assists on the night for a new Phoenix season high.
 
How It Happened
 

• TK Simpkins carried the Phoenix in the first three minutes, scoring seven straight points out of the gate to give Elon an early 7-5 lead.
• Elon began to catch fire from the outside following the first media timeout in the first half. Back-to-back triples from Max Mackinnon and Zac Ervin on consecutive possessions gave the Phoenix a six-point advantage in a matter of moments.
• LA Pratt added to the Phoenix lead with a transition triple to get the Elon lead to nine. Ned Hull would add another triple and Pratt would make two sweet layups on the fast break to push Elon's lead to 12.
• IUPUI's all-conference guard Jlynn Counter kept the jaguars in it in the first half with a combination of mid-range buckets and finishes around the rim to cut Elon's lead to six.
• The Jaguars would continue to put pressure on around the basket with Vincent Brady and John Egbuta bring the lead down to two.
• A layup by DJ Jackson with 37 seconds left in the half would even the score and leave it tied at the break at 36.
• Elon started fast with a triple from Nick Dorn to give the Phoenix the lead early in the second half.
• IUPUI would grab their first lead of the second half on a made jumper by Yves Nkomba, but Dorn and the Phoenix would regain the lead with another fast break score.
• The combination of Dorn and Simpkins would increase the lead to six, but a trio of triples from LA Pratt in quick succession gave Elon a second half cushion.
• Simpkins and Deandre Smart began to make tough shots around the basket to keep any run from the Jaguars at bay, then Mackinnon put the icing on the cake with 2:18 to go in the game with a dagger three to all but end the Jaguars hopes.
• Free throws by Rob Higgins and another three by Dorn would put the finishing touches on the Phoenix win.

 
Notes and Stats
 

• Elon captured its first win all-time against IUPUI with the win Friday night. IUPUI leads the all-time series 2-1 over the Phoenix.
• Nick Dorn dropped a career-high 19 points with four triples which also sets a personal high for the freshman.
• For the second time this season, LA Pratt set a new career high in points with 16 against the Jaguars. Pratt knocked down four threes for the second time this season.
• TK Simpkins dropped an Elon high 19 points shooting 71% for the field and going 2-2 from behind the arc.
• Rob Higgins tied his career high with 10 assists in the ballgame. Higgins last reached double figures in assists at SFU-Brooklyn a season ago.
• Elon finished 14-28 (50%) from three-point range. The Phoenix have now made at least nine threes in every game this season and it's the second time where the Phoenix have made double-digit threes.
• The last time the Phoenix hit 14 or more threes against a Division I opponent, Elon knocked down 17 against James Madison in a 90-67 victory over the Dukes.
• Elon's 50 second half points were the most in a second half this season and the second most in a half behind the 55-point outburst against Wake Forest.
• The Phoenix assisted on 18 of the 27 made field goals. The Phoenix got strong contributions from the bench as well, the Elon reserves put up 30 points as a unit.
• Elon led for 34:17 seconds of the 40 minutes of play.
• This was Elon's first in season tournament win since Elon defeated Concordia St. Paul 84-62 during the 2017 season. The victory ends a streak of 14 straight in season tournament losses.

 
Up Next

• The Phoenix will face Holy Cross (1-3) in game two of the Rock Hill Classic. Tipoff will be at 7:30 P.M. from the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center.