ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team was handed its first home loss of the season as the Phoenix fell to CAA co-leader Drexel, 89-69, on Saturday night, Jan. 13, in a league matchup at Schar Center.
 
Elon (8-9, 1-3 CAA) saw its unbeaten streak on its home floor end to the Dragons (12-6, 5-0 CAA). The Phoenix, who was 6-0 at Schar Center coming into tonight's game, was led by Rob Higgins and his 18 points. The fifth-year also drilled 4-of-6 from three-point territory, matching his season-high. Sam Sherry added 13 points while LA Pratt contributed with 12 followed by 10 points from Max Mackinnon to round out the double-digital scorers for Elon.
 
Drexel saw all five of its starters score in double figures, led by a game-high 22 points from Mate Okros. Amari Williams had 17 points while Luke House added 13. Justin Moore (11 points) and Lucas Monroe (10 points) also reached double figures for the Dragons.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix started the game with a three-point barrage as Elon made four triples among its first five field goals. A trey from LA Pratt with 15:39 left in the opening half gave the Phoenix a 14-13 lead going into the first media timeout.
• Elon held an 18-15 lead on a Mackinnon layup but the Dragons came back with a 5-0 run to move ahead 20-18 with 11:57 left in the first period.
• Mackinnon made another driving layup to pull the Phoenix within two, 22-20, but the Dragons came back with a 7-1 run to move in front 29-21 with 8:34 left in the period.
• Elon got it down to a five-point game, 29-24, on a three from Pratt, but Williams scored the next four points to push Drexel's lead to nine, 33-24.
• A Higgins three cut the Phoenix's deficit to seven, 36-29, with 6:44 left in the opening half. The Dragons came back with an 11-1 run to balloon their lead to 17, 47-30, after a layup from Garfield Turner. Drexel would eventually go into the halftime break with a 53-32 advantage over the Phoenix.
• Drexel led by as much as 27 points in the second half. The Phoenix would only trim its deficit as close as 18 points with the last time being with 6:45 left in the game after a Pratt three-pointer made the score 77-59. Elon would not get any closer as Drexel was able to secure its fifth straight win.
 
NOTES
• Elon was 11-of-23 from three-point range, shooting 37.9 percent from downtown. It was the Phoenix's seventh game of the season with 10 or more triples.
• Pratt tied his career-high in three-point makes after hitting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Pratt's 12 points were his double-digit scoring game since having 10 points against Valparaiso on Dec. 29.
• Higgins scored in double figures for the fifth straight game and the ninth time this season. Mackinnon added his seventh straight double-digit contest and his team-best 13^th of the year.
• TK Simpkins set a career-high leading the Phoenix with six assists off the bench. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native had seven points and five rebounds in 23 minutes.
• The Phoenix started a lineup of Higgins, Mackinnon, Pratt, Sherry and Deandre Smart for the second straight game. Higgins also appeared in his 110^th collegiate game while making his 106^th start.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix continues its three-game homestand with a matchup with intrastate foe UNCW next Thursday, Jan. 18. That contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start and will stream on FloHoops.