ELON, N.C. – Six players scored in double figures as the Elon University men's basketball team earned a 114-52 win versus Virginia University Lynchburg on Saturday night, Dec. 14, at Schar Center.
 
The Phoenix (7-3) set a school record for rebounds with 68 boards while also scoring a season-high 67 points in the opening half. TJ Simpkins paced a balanced scoring attack for the Phoenix with his 16 points, followed by 12 from TK Simpkins and Kendall Campbell. Nick Dorn added 11 points while Jameel Rideout and Matthew Van Komen both contributed with 10.
 
VUL saw three players reach double figures as Chaundre Bratcher had a game-high 18 points. Saveon Jackson added 15 while Curtis Holton had 11.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The game began with a TK Simpkins layup which got the Phoenix off to its great start. Elon took a 17-5 lead by the first media timeout with 15:47 left in the opening half.
• A three-pointer by Dorn with 13:11 left in the first period gave the Phoenix a 29-9 advantage. Just before the two-minute mark, the Phoenix took its largest lead of the first half, 65-13, off a Brayden Crump dunk before going into the locker room at the break ahead 67-17.
• Elon continued its tear in the second half, beginning the period on a 14-0 run to take an 81-17 lead with 13:47 left in the game. Campbell scored six points during that stretch for the Phoenix while TJ Simpkins also added a pair of baskets.
• A tip-in from Deandre Smart with 7:31 left to play gave the Phoenix its largest lead at that point, 96-30. A stepback jumper from Rideout with 5:49 in the period pushed the maroon and gold to the century mark, 100-35, while a three-pointer from Rideout tied the Phoenix's largest lead of the game at 106-40 with 4:43 left on the clock.
• Both teams played out the clock during the final minutes as the Phoenix closed out with the 114-52 win.
 
NOTES
• The Phoenix surpassed its previous rebound record of 67, which was set three different times, the latest coming against VUL on Dec. 2, 2014. Elon dominated the glass with 36 rebounds on the defensive end and 32 on the offensive boards with the Phoenix turning those opportunities into 27 second-chance points.
• Elon connected on 52 percent (46-of-89) from the field and had 25 assists. The 46 field goals made are the most for the Phoenix since having 47 versus Central Penn on Dec. 7, 2014, and is the fourth-highest mark in school history. The Phoenix's 25 assists are the most for the team since having 25 against James Madison on January 17, 2022.
• All 13 players that played for the Phoenix scored with every member playing at least 12 minutes in the contest.
• It was the fifth time under head coach Billy Taylor that the Phoenix reached the 100-point plateau and the second time this season. The 114 points tied for the fourth-highest total in school history at the Division I level.
• Smart made his season debut for the Phoenix as the junior forward scored nine points with six rebounds. Campbell had a season-high in points while grabbing five rebounds. Rideout reached the double-figure column for the first time at Elon after the Philadelphia native was 4-of-8 from the floor.
• Van Komen and Isaac Harrell tied the team lead in rebounds with nine with Van Komen being a rebound away from a double-double. The Lehi, Utah, native also had a pair of blocks in the contest.
• Elon improved to 2-0 all-time versus VUL while extending its overall win streak to four games. It is the longest win streak for the maroon and gold since Feb. 207, 2021, after the Phoenix defeated UNCW, 80-77.
 
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+.