PHILADELPHIA – The Elon University men's basketball team was handed a 69-56 setback to Maine in its opening game at the Cathedral Classic presented by Toyota on Friday afternoon, Nov. 29, at the Palestra.
 
The Phoenix (3-3) was led by TK Simpkins' 21 points, which was a game-high. TJ Simpkins added 10 off the bench for Elon as the other player in double figures for the maroon and gold.
 
Maine (4-3) had three players score in double figures with Quion Burns leading the way with 16 points. Kellen Tynes had a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists while Killian Gribben added 13 off the bench.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Elon jumped out to a 12-2- lead in the first seven minutes of the contest. A pair of free throws by Nick Dorn and a layup off a turnover by TK Simpkins gave the Phoenix the ten-point advantage with 13:32 left in the period.
• Maine responded with an 11-0 run to take a 13-12 lead with 9:38 left in the opening period. TJ Simpkins was able to split a pair at the line to tie the game at 13-all with 9:24 left in the first half.
• The Phoenix was to give itself a four-point lead, 19-15, after Matthew Van Komen knocked down a pair of free throws with 7:21 left to play in the first period. The Black Bears however closed out the opening half on a 14-4 run to go into the locker room with a 29-23 advantage.
• Maine led by eight, 31-23, early in the start of the second half after a jumper by Quion Burns. An 8-1- run by the Phoenix made it a one-point game, 32-31, after back-to-back three-pointers from TK Simpkins with 12:34 left in the contest.
• The Phoenix and the Black Bears traded baskets over the next three-plus minutes with Elon again pulling within one, 38-37, after a couple of free throws by Sam Sherry with 9:03 left in the game.
• Elon took its first lead of the second half as TK Simpkins was able to hit a three while being fouled on the play at the 8:14 mark. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was able to convert the four-point play to put the Phoenix ahead 41-38.
• The Black Bears retook the lead, 44-41, after a 6-0 run. Andrew King made it a one-possession game, 44-42, after splitting a pair at the line, but Maine went on an 11-2 run to take a 55-44 lead forcing an Elon timeout with 4:11 left to play.
• A three-pointer by TK Simpkins brought the Phoenix within eight, 55-47, with 3:41 left in the game but Elon couldn't get any closer as the Black Bears expanded their lead to earn the 69-56 victory.
 
NOTES
• Elon was held to 37.5 percent shooting from the field (18-of-48), its first game shooting under 40 percent this season. The Phoenix also hit 25 percent of its three-pointers (6-of-24), also its lowest total in a single game on the year.
• The Phoenix won the rebounding battle, 33-27, over the Black Bears, its third straight game of having a better rebounding margin than the opposition.
• TK Simpkins reached the 20-point mark for the first time this season and the fifth time overall at Elon. He and his brother TJ are the lone players to score in double figures in all six games this season.
• This was the first-ever meeting between the Phoenix and the Black Bears on the basketball court. Elon falls to 1-4 all-time versus current teams in the America East Conference.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix continues its run at the tournament tomorrow, Nov. 30, facing Navy at 2 p.m. That game will stream on ESPN+.