ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball returns to Schar Center Saturday night, Dec. 14, as the Phoenix (6-3) hosts Virginia University Lynchburg. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
• The game will stream on FloCollege via a paid subscription.
• Listen to the Elon Sports Network from Learfield IMG College's coverage on The Varsity Network app.
• Longtime voice of the Phoenix, Taylor Durham, will be on the call along with Khirey Walker with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST
• Links for the broadcast and live stats can be found on the Elon men's basketball schedule page at elonphoenix.com.
• Other in-game updates will be provided on Twitter by following @ElonMBasketball.
 
THE MATCHUP
• Elon and Virginia University Lynchburg have played each other only one other time going into Saturday's contest, back on Dec. 12, 2014.
• The Phoenix routed the Dragons, 111-55, in Alumni Gym, while seeing five players score in double figures. Every player in uniform scored at least two points in the win, as the Phoenix bench scored a total of 53 points.
• Christian Hairston recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 boards. Tanner Samson pitched in a game-high 17 points, while Elijah Bryant ended the evening with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting to go along with four assists.
• The game was the 60^th time that the Phoenix had scored 100 or more points in a game. That total currently marks as the sixth-highest total in school history.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Phoenix won its third straight game last Saturday, defeating Wofford 79-56 in its first game at Schar Center in nearly a month. Elon earned its first victory over the Terriers since January 19, 2013.
• Sam Sherry led the offensive charge for the Phoenix, scoring a season-high 22 points. Nick Dorn added 15 points while TK Simpkins contributed 11. Matthew Van Komen stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds, four assists while having a season-high six blocks – tying for the second-most in a game in school history.
• Sherry scored 20 points for the first time this season and for the third time in his career. His 22 points were two off his career-high of 24 that he set versus Johnson & Wales (Charlotte) on Dec. 11, 2022. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native was 8-of-13 from the floor while knocking down a career-best three triples, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
• Elon held the Terriers to 28.8 percent shooting, the lowest field goal percentage by an opponent this season. It is the second time this season that the Phoenix has held an opponent to less than 30 percent from the field, after allowing just 29.7 percent at Penn.
• Elon shot 60 percent from the field (28-of-47) and 50 percent from the three-point line (11-of-22). The Phoenix also won the rebounding battle, 40-34, and had a 13-4 advantage in fast break points.
• The win increased the Phoenix's all-time ledger over Wofford to 31-21.
 
SCOUTING VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY LYNCHBURG
• VUL plays in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). VUL competes in eight intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, football and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
• Elon will be the eighth Division I team that the Dragons will have played on their schedule so far this season. Going into Saturday's contest, VUL will have faced Norfolk State, Mercer, Alabama State, N.C. Central, VMI, William & Mary and Howard as Division I opponents.
• Through its nine countable games going into Saturday, VUL is averaging 59.4 points on 36.2 percent shooting, including 28.2 percent from 3-point range, while allowing 112.3 points on 53.9 percent from the field.
• Le'Nijel Robinson is the Dragons' leading scorer at 20 points per game while pulling down 6.4 boards per contest. Terrance Johnson is next at 19.8 points per game while leading the team at 6.7 rebounds per game. Both Robinson and Johnson are shooting 33 percent from the field.
 
PRESEASON PRAISE
• Junior guard TK Simpkins was named to the 2024-25 Preseason All-CAA as the league announced its preseason awards on Oct. 18. Simpkins is the second Phoenix to earn a spot on the All-CAA preseason team in the past two seasons.
• The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was the Phoenix's top scorer at 13.8 points per game and in total assists with 90. He also finished second on the squad at 4.7 rebounds per game while pacing the Phoenix in free throws made at 128 while hitting 74 percent from the charity stripe.
• During the CAA season, Simpkins upped his scoring average to 14.6 per game and tied for the team-lead in rebounds per contest (4.9) while dishing out 3.7 assists per game. He was also active on the defensive end, recording 45 steals on the season. He scored in double figures 21 times in 2023-24.
 
2023-24 REWIND
• The Phoenix returned nine players from its squad a season ago including three starters. Overall, Elon brings back 54 percent of its scoring, 66 percent of its rebounding, 43 percent of its assists and 41 percent of its three-point field goals from 2023-24.
• Elon is coming off a season ranking third in the CAA in three-point field goal percentage (35.2), fourth in three-point attempts (24.4) and fourth in steals per game (6.3). The Phoenix also posted its first winning record on its home floor at Schar Center for the first time in the seven-year facility (excluding the truncated 2020-21 COVID season).
• Along with Simpkins, Elon's other returning starters are senior forward Sam Sherry and sophomore guard Nick Dorn. Both players averaged over nine points per game while starting at least 22 games for the maroon and gold.
• Head coach Billy Taylor begins his third season at the helm of the Phoenix men's basketball program. Taylor helped the Phoenix to post its first winning record at the Schar Center last season while also helping the maroon and gold earn a pair of wins versus teams with an RPI/NET rating of 150 in UNCW and Delaware.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
• Single-game tickets are available for purchase on ElonTickets.com. Single-game tickets begin at $20 for men's basketball. Fans are able to purchase a book of 10 ticket vouchers for $100. These vouchers are redeemable for a ticket to any Elon men's regular season home game. Ticket vouchers must be redeemed for a reserved seat ticket prior to entry. This can be done at the Schar Center Box Office during regular business hours (M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or starting 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
• Elon men's basketball season tickets are just $170. For Phoenix Club donors at the Elon Society level, courtside seats are $210, and access to the Sunbrella Club is $360. The Sunbrella Club provides private access to a cash bar and food buffet catered by Harvest Table with a rotation of menus for each game.
• For more information, visit ElonTickets.com or call the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.
 
UP NEXT
Elon travels to ETSU next Wednesday, Dec. 18 for its lone road game this month. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.