ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team nearly overcame a large halftime deficit versus UNCW, but fell short in its rally as the Seahawks defeated the Phoenix, 82-70, on Thursday night, Jan. 18, at Schar Center.
 
Three players reached double digits for the Phoenix (8-10, 1-4 CAA) as LA Pratt and TK Simpkins both had 16 points to lead Elon. Rob Higgins added 13, with Elon ending the game shooting 44.9 percent overall.
 
UNCW (12-5, 3-2 CAA) won its third straight game thanks to a game-high 31 points from Trazarien White. White had a double-double in the contest with 11 rebounds as he led three Seahawk players in double figures. KJ Jenkins had 18 points while Shykeim Phillips added 15.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix opened the game with a 7-3 lead after scoring seven unanswered points in the first three and a half minutes. A three-pointer by UNCW's White made it a one-point game, 7-6, going into the first media timeout.
• The Seahawks continued with an 11-0 run, pushing their lead to 14-7 after splitting a pair at the line at the 13-minute mark. LA Pratt momentarily stopped UNCW's run with a layup, but the Seahawks saw their lead grow to 12, 21-9, on a White jumper.
• A three-point play converted by Sherry at the 10:11 mark helped cut the Phoenix's deficit down to single digits, 21-12. UNCW came back with an 8-2 run to push its lead to 29-14 by the third media timeout.
• The Seahawks continued to grow their lead, holding a 23-point advantage at one point, 40-17, with 4:09 left in the first half. Elon would trim into UNCW's lead before going into the halftime break down 46-27.
• Elon responded with a strong start to the second half. The Phoenix started the second period with a 10-0 run to trim its deficit to nine, 46-37. The Seahawks were able to respond to go ahead by 15, 55-40, after a KJ Jenkins jumper with 15:36 left to play.
• The Phoenix clawed its way back to bring its deficit to five, 60-55, after a 15-5 run. Simpkins hit a pair of free throws with 10:03 left in the game to pull Elon closer to the Seahawks.
• A Jenkins three-pointer would push the Seahawks' lead to eight, 63-55, but Elon answered to make it a one-possession game, 65-62, thanks to a 7-2 run capped off by two more free throws from Simpkins.
• UNCW was able to keep the Phoenix from getting any closer, with White scoring the next five points to put the Seahawks ahead 70-62. Elon would get as close as seven points down the stretch, but the Seahawks would eventually take the win, 82-70.
 
NOTES
• Pratt matched his career-high with his 16 points as the sophomore was 7-of-11 from the floor. He also tied for the team-lead with seven rebounds.
• Simpkins had his best scoring outing of the CAA season. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was 9-of-11 from the charity stripe.
• After only shooting 38.5 percent in the opening half, the Phoenix shot 52 percent in the second period, including going 5-of-9 from three-point range.
 
UP NEXT
Elon closes out its homestand with a contest versus Northeastern on Saturday night, Jan. 20. The Phoenix and the Huskies will begin play at 7 p.m. with the game being streamed on FloHoops.