PHILADELPHIA – Behind a combined 41 points from sophomore Nick Dorn and junior TK Simpkins, the Elon University men's basketball team earned a 69-63 victory over Navy on the Phoenix's second day at the Cathedral Classic presented by Toyota on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Palestra.
 
Dorn (21) and TK Simpkins (20) paced the Phoenix (4-3) offensively with their second 20-point scoring outing on the season. Both players combined to hit all 10 of Elon's three-pointers with the duo going 10-of-20 between them. TJ Simpkins added 15 points off the bench while Matthew Van Komen nearly had a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
 
Navy's Austin Benigni had 18 points to lead the Midshipmen (3-5). Sam Krist (12) and Cam Cole (11) also scored in double digits for Navy.  
 
THE RUNDOWN
• Both teams had a defensive battle in the opening minutes of the first half with both teams hitting one field goal each in the first seven minutes of the game. Navy broke the field goal stalemate with a three-pointer by Cole to put the Midshipmen ahead 7-5 with 12:57 left in the first half.
• After some back-and-forth baskets by Benigni and Simpkins made the score 9-8 in favor of Navy, the Phoenix went on a 15-3 run for nearly five minutes, taking a 23-12 advantage after a three from Dorn gave Elon its largest lead of the half.
• The Phoenix matched its largest lead of the first period, 26-15, after a TK Simpkins three-pointer, but Navy responded with a 7-0 run to make it a four-point outing, 26-22, with 3:12 left in the period.
• Elon regrouped with a 9-2 run of its own with Dorn and TK Simpkins combining to hit three triples during that stretch. Dorn's last trey of the half gave the Phoenix a 35-24 advantage with 15 seconds left before the horn, but Navy was able to get those points back with three free throws from Krist before both teams went into the locker room.
• The Phoenix started the second half with a dunk by Van Komen and a pair of free throws from TK Simpkins, giving Elon a 39-27 advantage. Navy would cut its disadvantage down to seven, 39-32, after a Benigni three, but Elon came back with a 7-0 run to double its lead to 46-32 with 15:33 left to play.
• Both teams went quiet offensively for the next five minutes until Navy's Jack Medalie hit a jumper with 9:58 left in the game, bringing the score to 46-34. The Phoenix however kept control of the game, taking its largest lead of the half, 57-42, with 5:44 left to play and holding a 14-point advantage, 62-48, with just over a minute remaining.
• The Midshipmen made a furious rally in the final minute to cut the Phoenix's lead down to single digits, but Elon would keep its distance by making its free throws down the stretch to come away with the 69-63 win.
 
NOTES
• The Phoenix leads the all-time series over Navy, 3-2, with Elon winning the last three games.
• Phoenix head coach Billy Taylor improves to 11-2 all-time versus the Midshipmen.
• TK Simpkins scored 20 points for the second straight game and for the sixth time overall at Elon. Dorn reached 20 points for the second time out of his last three games and the third time overall in his career. Dorn's six three-pointers on the game was a new career high for the Charlotte, N.C., native while TK Simpkins set a new Elon-best with his four triples.
• Elon dominated the glass with a 49-43 advantage on the boards. The maroon and gold had 17 on the offensive end with Van Komen accounting for seven of that total.
• Van Komen added four blocked shots to his stat line, his fifth game with at least two more blocks. The Lehi, Utah, native has 17 blocks on the season on a 2.8 blocks per game average, which are both tops in the CAA.
• Andrew King led the Phoenix with four assists in the game. Over his past four games, the Phoenix, Ariz., native has dished out 16 assists with just two turnovers during that span.
 
UP NEXT
Elon closes out the tournament with a game versus host Penn tomorrow, Dec. 1, with tip off scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The contest will stream on ESPN+.