JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Elon University men's basketball team saw its four-game win streak come to an end as the Phoenix fell at ETSU, 84-58, on Wednesday night, Dec. 18 at Freedom Hall.
 
Elon's TJ Simpkins scored a season and game-high 27 points off the bench to lead the Phoenix (7-4). Nick Dorn was the other double-digit scorer for the maroon and gold, who suffered its second setback in the past eight games.
 
ETSU (7-5) was led by Quimari Peterson's 19 points as he also dished out six assists. Jaden Seymour added 17 for the Buccaneers while John Buggs III contributed 11.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Buccaneers raced out to a 16-3 lead to open the game. ETSU started the game on a 9-0 run before the Phoenix scored its first point off an Andrew King free throw. TJ Simpkins added Elon's first field goal of the contest to make it a six-point game, 9-3, but the Buccaneers had a 7-0 run to force an Elon timeout.
• ETSU led 22-7, but the Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 10, 24-14, after TJ Simpkins knocked down a pair at the line. Elon continued to cut into the Buccaneers' lead, pulling within seven, 26-19, after another free throw from TJ Simpkins.
• Elon trailed 30-22 after Isaac Harrell made a three-pointer with 6:23 left in the first half. The Buccaneers then went on a 12-1 run to push their advantage to 42-23 with 2:54 left in the opening period. After the Phoenix's Jameel Rideout hit a three with 2:33 remaining before the half, both teams went into an offensive lull before a pair of free throws by Peterson with 31 seconds set the 44-26 score before both teams went into the locker room.
• The Buccaneers pushed their lead to 20, 46-26, after opening the second half with a layup while getting fouled on the play for an and-one. A layup from Dorn on the other end made the score 47-28 as Elon looked to rally.
• ETSU however converted another layup to go back up by 21, 49-28. The Buccaneers would not see their lead fall below the 20-point mark for the remainder of the game, as ETSU took the 84-58 victory.
 
NOTES
• ETSU improved to 5-2 all-time versus the Phoenix and improved to 3-0 all-time against Elon on its home floor.
• Behind TJ Simpkins' 27 points, Elon outscored ETSU's bench, 36-25.
• Dorn knocked down two three-pointers in the game, his 10^th contest with at least two or more threes in 11 games.
• Brayden Crump had six points off the pine and a season-high nine rebounds in nearly 23 minutes of action.
• Isaac Harrell made his second start of the season for the Phoenix. The Jonesboro, Ark., native scored five points with six rebounds in 27 minutes.
• ETSU outrebounded the Phoenix 40-35, but the maroon and gold held a 13-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix hosts UNCG in its final game before the holiday break on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Schar Center. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will stream on FloCollege.