Rock Hill, S.C. – The Elon Phoenix (3-2) earned an 83-69 victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders (1-4) Saturday night. The Phoenix now has two wins from two games at the Rock Hill Classic following Friday night's victory over IUPUI.
 
The Phoenix enjoyed double-digit scoring nights from Max Mackinnon, Zac Ervin and TK Simpkins while 10 players in total put the ball in the hole. LA Pratt contributed six assists in 21 minutes and grabbed two steals to go along with six points.
 
How It Happened
 

• TK Simpkins got off to another hot start for the Phoenix scoring an early seven points for the second straight game at the Rock Hill Classic.
• Simpkins and Max Mackinnon provided the early scoring spark, putting in a combined 12 points in the first six-and-a-half minutes.
• Elon's bench would provide a spark midway through the first half with bench sharpshooters Zac Ervin and Ned Hull knocking down back-to-back triples to give the Phoenix a six-point lead, 20-14.
• LA Pratt would turn it on following a 30 second timeout from Holy Cross. Pratt would go coast to coast with a steal then take it all the way for a layup at the other end. On the next Phoenix possession Pratt would put his handles on display, crossing up a defender then finding Deandre Smart with a nice find for the deuce.
• Elon would continue to rip the ropes from the field in the first 20 minutes, with Rob Higgins knocking down a triple from the right wing which was answered by another Ervin triple. Ervin's three-ball would stretch the Phoenix lead to nine with just over two minutes remaining in the half.
• The Phoenix would lead at the break 44-35 following a last second layup by the Crusaders.
• Elon would start the final frame hot from the field, hitting four of their first five shots, with a Mackinnon trey stretching the lead to 15 and forcing a Crusader timeout.
• Mackinnon would score seven consecutive points in a stretch that would push the Elon lead to 17 with five and a half minutes gone by in the second half.
• Ervin would continue his hot shooting with another triple to stretch the lead to 18 before an and-one by the Crusaders would give the Phoenix a 15-point lead at the under-12 media timeout.
• The combination of Pratt and Sam Sherry proved effective with Sherry converting on a layup underneath the basket then Pratt using a fake behind the back pass on the pick and roll with Sherry to get himself an easy finish around the basket.
• Nick Dorn would knock down his lone triple to ice the game and give the Phoenix a 20-point advantage with five minutes to go.
• Following a number of baskets from Holy Cross in the closing moments, the final margin of victory would be 14 for the Phoenix with an 83-69 final.

 
Notes and Stats
 

• Elon earns it first win over Holy Cross in the first ever matchup between the Phoenix and the Crusaders.
• For the second straight game, the Phoenix led for 30+ minutes with Elon leading for a total of 32:17.
• The Phoenix was +7 on the boards with a rebounding advantage of 36 to 29.
• For the second consecutive game, Elon scored 80 or more points. This is the first time the Phoenix have put up back-to-back 80-point games against Division I opponents since put up 86 twice against Towson and UNCW at the end of the 2018-19 season.
• Elon knocked down 11 threes, extending the streak of games with at least nine triples to five games.
• Elon assisted on 18 of its 33 made shots. This is the second consecutive game where Elon has had 18 assists. Seven different players had at least one assist with LA Pratt leading the way with six.
• Max Mackinnon led the way for the Phoenix in scoring with 16 points. This is Mackinnon's fourth game this season scoring in double-figures and third time scoring 16 or more points.
• Zac Ervin put in a 15-point effort off the bench for the Phoenix. This is the second time this season and the 11^th time in his career that he has made four or more threes. Ervin is now tied for 13^th on the all-time list in Elon history in career three-pointers made (163).
• TK Simpkins put up 12 points in the victory over Holy Cross. This is Simpkins' third straight game in double figures, and he is averaging 15.5 points per game in the Rock Hill Classic.
• Sam Sherry scored a season-high nine points and grabbed six boards. Sherry also dished out three assists against the Crusaders which is the second highest total of his Elon career.

 
Up Next

• The Phoenix will face Winthrop in the final matchup of the Rock Hill Classic. The game between Elon and the Eagles will tip at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.