Rock Hill, S.C. – The Elon Phoenix (3-3) fell in their final matchup of the Rock Hill Classic to the Winthrop Eagles (4-2), 78-70. Elon finishes 2-1 and the Rock Hill Classic with convincing victories over IUPUI and Holy Cross.
 
Rob Higgins dropped an Elon career-high 20 points on six-for-nine shooting from the field. TK Simpkins stuffed the stat sheet for the Phoenix, scoring 14 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists against the Eagles.
 
How It Happened
 

• Nick Dorn came out hot right from jump, knocking down a pair of triples to push Elon out to a 6-0 lead.
• The first five Phoenix buckets came off the long ball with Zac Ervin knocking home a jumper and Rob Higgins hitting a pair of three-pointers to give the Phoenix an early 11-point lead.
• The Eagles would work their way back into the game with a pair of fast break buckets from Sin'cere Mcmahon, but Ervin would knock down his second triple of the half, giving the Phoenix a seven-point advantage.
• Winthrop would grab their first lead of the game, but Deandre Smart would use a nice pump fake to get free under the basket for an easy finish to regain the lead.
• Winthrop would go on a 5-0 run to stretch the lead to eight, which would be the halftime margin at 39-31 Eagles.
• The Phoenix began the second half with a pair of layups from Higgins and Sam Sherry to trim the Eagle lead to four. A pair of triples from Dorn and Max Mackinnon would trim the lead to two.
• Elon tied up the score with a layup from Deandre Smart off a nice feed from TK Simpkins. The lead would not last as Winthrop would score five straight points to pull back ahead.
• Following consecutive buckets from Noah Van Bibber Winthrop's lead would grow to nine. The Phoenix continued to drive and take Winthrop fouls with Simpkins and Sherry each knocking down a pair to knock the lead back down to nine.
• Simpkins would continue to will the Phoenix forward at the free throw line, but Winthrop continued to convert in the paint.
• Elon got as close as five in the final minute, but Winthrop would prevail 78-70.

 
Notes and Stats
 

• The Phoenix trail in the all-time series with Winthrop 3-12 following Sunday's loss.
• Rob Higgins scored an Elon high 20 points against Winthrop. Higgins last scored 20 points in a game against Farleigh Dickinson last season in a 21-point effort for Saint Francis-Brooklyn.
• TK Simpkins stuffed the stat sheet against the Eagles. His seven rebounds and five assists led the way for the Phoenix in both categories.
• Elon outrebounded Winthrop 35-32 with Simpkins, Higgins and Mackinnon all eclipsing six rebounds.
• With Zac Ervin's two triples against the Eagles, Ervin is now 13^th all-time in Elon history in three-pointers made.
• Nick Dorn hit three triples against the Eagles, which marked the second time at the Rock Hill Classic he hit three or more threes. Dorn also hit three pointers against Wake Forest in the first game of the season.
• Following the three games at the Rock Hill Classic, the Phoenix now have five players all averaging over nine points per game.
• Deandre Smart contributed six points off the bench in 21 minutes of play.
• Kelton Talford led the way for Winthrop with 18 points against the Phoenix.

 
Up Next

• The Phoenix will welcome the Presbyterian College Blue Hose following the Thanksgiving Break. Elon and Presbyterian will face off on November 27 with a 7:00 P.M. tip.