ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team broke the 100-point barrier as the Phoenix saw five players score in double figures in its 103-66 victory over Bluefield on Saturday night, Nov. 9, at Schar Center.
 
The Phoenix (1-1) scored 100 points for the 17^th time in school history at the Division I level and for the fourth time under head coach Billy Taylor. It also marked the first 100-point game since scoring 104 points versus Bridgewater on Dec. 15, 2023.
 
TJ Simpkins led a balanced Phoenix attack offensively with 21 points off the bench while Nick Dorn added 16. TK Simpkins contributed with 14 points while Matthew Van Komen (13) and Sam Sherry (12) also reached the double-digit plateau.
 
The Rams' Quantavis McKinney paced Bluefield with 15 points.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• It was a tight game between the two teams for the first seven-plus minutes with neither team holding more than a two-point advantage. Bluefield took a 13-12 lead after a pair of free throws with 12:42 left in the opening half.
• Elon however unleashed an 18-0 run over the next four minutes. Brayden Crump kicked off the run with a jump hook in the paint before it culminated with a Nick Dorn three-pointer that put the Phoenix ahead 30-13.
• Bluefield cut its deficit to single digits after going on a 12-4 run to make the score 34-25 in favor of the Phoenix. Elon however countered with a 19-8 run to close out the opening period with a 53-33 lead.
• The Phoenix expanded its lead to 25, 60-35, after a three-pointer by TK Simpkins early in the second half. Bluefield would only get as close as 23 points in the second half as the Phoenix would balloon its lead to as large as 39 points before eventually taking the 103-66 victory.
 
NOTES
• The Phoenix connected on 53 percent of its shots (35-of-66), which included 12 three-pointers and 40 points in the paint, while the defense held the Rams to 35 percent (24-of-68) shooting.
• Van Komen was one point off his career-high as the center was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field. The Lehi, Utah, native also grabbed eight rebounds with a pair of blocked shots.
• Six different players hit one three-pointer for the Phoenix with TK Simpkins leading the way with three triples. Elon has hit double digits in made three-pointers in both of its games this season.
• Thanks to TJ Simpkins' 21 points off the pine, the Phoenix reserves outscored Bluefield's bench, 46-25.
• Redshirt freshman Brayden Crump nearly had a double-double for the Phoenix, scoring a season-high eight points with seven boards. True freshman Trey O'Neil made his collegiate debut against the Rams, scoring eight points with a pair of three-point baskets.
• Elon improved to 7-1 all-time in home openers at Schar Center. Head coach Billy Taylor also remained unblemished in his time at Elon in home openers, improving to 3-0.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix embarks on a six-game trip from Schar Center beginning at Gardner-Webb on Friday, Nov. 15. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.