DEKALB, ILL. – The Elon University men's basketball team had a dominating road win at Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Nov. 20 as the Phoenix defeated the Huskies 75-48 at the NIU Convocation Center.
 
Elon (2-2) saw four players crack the double-digit scoring column with TK Simpkins leading the way with 19 points. TJ Simpkins added 16 points off the bench while Nick Dorn and Sam Sherry both contributed with 12. Both Sherry and Simpkins posted a double-double with 10 rebounds each.
 
NIU's James Dent Jr. led the Huskies (2-3) with 16 points, the lone player in double figures for the host.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon took an 11-5 lead early in the first half after TK Simpkins knocked down a three-pointer with 16:21 left in the period. The Huskies were able to make it a one-point game, 11-10, after a 5-0 run, after a pair of free throws.
• The Phoenix went up by five, 15-10, after a Jameel Rideout jumper, but NIU again trimmed its deficit back to one, 15-14, after a Quentin Jones layup. Elon proceeded to go on a 6-0 run to take a seven-point advantage after an offensive rebound and putback by Matthew Van Komen.
• Northern Illinois cut the Phoenix's lead down to three, after a three by James Dent Jr., at the 9:39 mark. The Phoenix responded with a 14-0 run to take its biggest advantage of the opening half, 34-20, after TK Simpkins split a pair at the free throw line with 4:23 left in the half.
• The Huskies were able to cut into Elon's lead to make it a single-digit contest, 36-29, with 15 seconds left in the opening period. A pair of free throws by TK Simpkins with seven seconds left before the horn, gave the Phoenix a 38-29 advantage going into the locker room.
• Elon continued its strong play into the second half. The Phoenix went up by 15, 45-30, on a TK Simpkins layup with 16:01 left in the game. The Huskies hit a three-pointer on the next possession to pull within 12, but that was as close as they would get to the Phoenix in the second half.
• The Phoenix kept in control of the game throughout the second half, leading by as much as 30 before coming away with the 75-48 win over the Huskies.
 
NOTES
• Elon dominated the boards, outrebounding the Huskies 53 to 25 including a 13-7 advantage on the offensive glass. TK Simpkins' 10 rebounds was a career-high for the Brooklyn, N.Y., native as he added his second double-double at Elon. Sherry added his fourth career double-double for the maroon and gold.
• The Phoenix shot 46.0 percent from the floor (23-of-49) and hit 22-of-27 free throws at 81.5 percent.
• TK Simpkins, TJ Simpkins, Sherry and Dorn have scored in double figures in each of the Phoenix's four games this season.
• Van Komen scored nine points and had five blocked shots for the Phoenix in the contest.
• The win was the Phoenix's first true road win since defeating Kennesaw State in 2018.
• Elon improves to 2-0 all-time versus NIU in its series history with both contests coming in DeKalb.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix travels to South Bend, Ind., for a Friday night matchup at Notre Dame. That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff at Purcell Pavilion and will air on the ACC Network Extra.