COLUMBIA, S.C. –  The Elon University men's basketball team suffered a 70-43 defeat at the hands of South Carolina on Friday night, Dec. 22 at Colonial Life Arena in a nonconference matchup.
 
Sam Sherry had 12 points to lead the Phoenix (6-6) as the junior was one of two players in double figures for Elon. Max Mackinnon added 11 points for the maroon and gold.
 
The Gamecocks (11-1) had four players reach double digits with Ta'lon Cooper leading the way with 20 points. Myles Stute added 11 points and eight rebounds while Jacobi Wright and Collin Murray-Boyles contributed with 10.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon opened the game with a 5-1 lead after a Mackinnon jumper and a Sherry three-pointer. Another jumper by Rob Higgins put the Phoenix ahead 7-4 at the 15:37 mark.
• A 9-2 run by the Gamecocks put the Phoenix behind 13-9, but the Phoenix was able to respond to erase its deficit. Elon came back with a 7-2 run capped off by Mackinnon splitting a pair at the line to return the lead to the Phoenix at 16-15 with 8:36 left in the first half.
• The Gamecocks and the Phoenix battled back and forth over the next three minutes with another jumper by Higgins bringing the maroon and gold within one, 19-18. South Carolina would however end the first period with an 11-2 run enabling a 10-point advantage for the Gamecocks going into the locker room at 30-20.
• South Carolina saw its lead expand to 40-24 in the opening five minutes of the second half. A pair of three pointers by the Gamecocks and a couple of layups helped USC in its 10-4 run before Elon called a timeout.
• Elon would trim its deficit to 14 twice in the second half, but could not get any closer than that as the Gamecocks would take control of the contest to crush to the 70-43 win.
 
NOTES
• Sherry reached double figures for the third straight game and the fourth time this season. Over his last five games, the Mechanicsville, Pa., native is averaging 11.6 points per game over his last five games.
• South Carolina's win snaps its two-game losing streak against the Phoenix, dating back to the 2011-12 season. The Gamecock's last win in the series was in 2010 on their home floor.
• TK Simpkins led the Phoenix with eight rebounds on the night, his second-highest total on the season.
 
UP NEXT
Elon will be idle for the holiday break before returning to Schar Center on Dec. 29 to host Valparaiso in its final nonconference game of the season. That contest is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tipoff and will stream on FloHoops.