ELON, N.C. – Behind a career-high tying six steals from Rob Higgins, the Elon University men's basketball team closed out its non-conference schedule with an 82-78 win over Valparaiso on Friday afternoon, Dec. 29 at Schar Center.
 
The Phoenix (7-6) remained unbeaten on its home floor this season, improving to 5-0 at Schar Center. Higgins led four players in double figures for the maroon and gold with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Max Mackinnon added 16 points and tied Higgins for the team-lead with four assists while Nick Dorn and LA Pratt contributed with 11 and 10 points off the bench, respectively.
 
The Beacons fell to 4-9 on the year and also had four players reach double figures. Jahari Williamson scored a game-high 24 points while Cooper Schwieger added 21 points. Jaxon Edwards had 15 points while Darius DeAveiro posted 10 points for Valpo.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Both teams were knotted up at 6-6 after a pair of free throws by Williamson at the 17:46 mark in the first half. Elon then responded with a 14-2 run capped off by five points from Isaac Harrell to push the Phoenix ahead 20-8 with 11:14 left in the half.
• Elon would see its lead grow as large as 15 after a Dorn three-pointer to put the Phoenix up 23-8. A Sam Sherry jump hook matched the Phoenix's 15-point lead, 25-10, with 9:47 left in the opening half.
• Valpo came back with a 12-3 run to cut it into a single-digit game after an Edwards' dunk trimmed the Phoenix's lead to six, 28-22.
• The Beacons kept it a six-point game, 32-26, after a pair of free throws at the 4:23 mark. Elon however closed out the first period on a 10-3 run to take a 42-29 advantage into the locker room at the half.
• The Phoenix opened the second half with a 17-point lead, 51-34, after a Mackinnon jumper in the lane. Valparaiso cut Elon's lead back to single digits, 51-44, on a 10-0 run leading to a Phoenix timeout with 13:18 left in the game.
• Three free throws from Harrell gave the Phoenix a 10-point cushion, 54-44, but a 10-3 run by the Beacons turned it into a one-possession game, 57-54, with 10:06 left in the half after a DeAveiro layup.
• Elon was able to expand its lead to eight, 67-59, after an LA Pratt three-pointer, but Valpo cut the Phoenix's lead down to two on a Schwieger layup with 5:52 left in the game with the score 68-66.
• The Phoenix answered with an 8-0 run to move back up by 10. Sherry scored on a layup in the paint while getting fouled on the play. The junior missed the free throw, but the Phoenix gathered the offensive rebound which led to a Pratt three-pointer. On the ensuing inbound play, Valpo turned the ball over at midcourt to Higgins, with the Middletown, N.J., native able to convert an old-fashioned three-point play after being fouled on a layup to put the Phoenix ahead 76-66.
• Valpo continued to battle back, cutting the Phoenix's lead to four, 78-74, on a DeAveiro layup with 3:06 left in the contest. Elon continued to keep its distance as Higgins scored with another layup with 1:35 left in the game before essentially icing the game at the free throw line to help the Phoenix secure the 82-78 win.
 
NOTES
• Higgins matched his career-high six steals in the contest. The fifth-year transfer previously had six steals versus Bryant on Feb. 24, 2022, as a member of the St. Francis Brooklyn basketball program. His six thefts also tie him for the second-highest total in school history at the Division I level.
• Elon's 7-6 ledger during its non-conference slate is the program's best since going 8-6 in the 2017-18 campaign.
• The Phoenix leveled its all-time record versus Valparaiso to 1-1 after avenging its loss last season to the Beacons.
• Elon ended the game shooting 53 percent from the floor (29-of-55) while posting its fourth game scoring 80 points or more this season.
• Zac Ervin made his first start of the season for the Phoenix. The Gate City, Va., native played 19 minutes and scored two points.
• Elon outscored Valparaiso, 32-2, off the bench. It was the eighth game of the season that the Phoenix reserves scored 30 or more points.
• Harrell set a new season-high with eight points in the contest. The Jonesboro, Ark., native was 2-of-3 from the floor while knocking down all three of his free throw attempts.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will return to the court for the start of CAA play as Elon travels to William & Mary on Thursday, Jan. 4. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and will stream on FloHoops.