ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team nearly overcame a second-half deficit, but a layup in the final seconds by Campbell's Anthony Dell'Orso was the difference as the Phoenix fell to the Camels, 69-67, in a CAA contest in Schar Center on Thursday night, Feb. 1.
 
The Phoenix (9-13, 2-7 CAA) was down 10 with just under five minutes to play, but was able to erase that deficit to tie the contest at 67-all. The Camels Dell'Orso however was able to get past the Phoenix defense to score a layup with just over a second left in the game to give Campbell (11-11, 5-4 CAA) the season sweep over its intrastate rival.
 
Sam Sherry led four Phoenix players in double figures with 15 points. Max Mackinnon had 13 for the maroon and gold while TK Simpkins and Nick Dorn added 12 and 11, respectively.
 
Dell'Orso had a game-high 17 points for the Camels while adding 10 rebounds for his double-double stat line. Jasin Sinani added 15 for Campbell followed by Elijah Walsh with 14. Laurynas Vaistaras rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Camels with 10.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the game. Two-point baskets by TK Simpkins and Sam Sherry got the Phoenix on the board followed by a three from Mackinnon at the 17:25 mark in the first half.
• Campbell took the lead after a 12-2 run capped by a three-pointer. Elon tied the game at 14-all after a layup by Higgins, but a three from the Camels' Sinani gave them a three-point advantage, 17-14, at the second media timeout of the half.
• An Isaac Harrell putback brought the Phoenix within one, 17-16, but Campbell responded with a 6-0 run to move ahead 23-16. Elon came back on a 5-0 run to pull back within two, 23-21, on a Dorn three with 7:08 left in the opening half.
• Elon kept the score close, cutting its deficit to one, 27-26, on a pullup jumper by Higgins. A layup by Mackinnon on the next offensive possession gave the Phoenix a 28-27 lead with 2:24 left in the opening half. Campbell however closed out the first period with a 7-0 run to take a 34-28 advantage into the break.
• A jumper by Simpkins at the start of the second half made it a five-point game, 37-32, in favor of the Camels. Campbell saw its lead expand to 10, 42-32, after a 5-0 run with 17:26 left in the game.
• Campbell went up by 12, 51-39, after a three-pointer from Elijah Walsh. Elon answered with an 8-0 run to pull within four, 51-47, on a Simpkins layup with 10:43 left to play.
• Camels responded with a 7-0 run to go back in front by double-digits, 58-47, with 8:32 left in the game. A layup in the paint by Walsh kept Campbell ahead by 10, 67-57, with 4:41 left in the game.
• The Phoenix defense then stepped up, shutting down the Camels' offense while going on a 10-0 run over the next four-plus minutes to tie the game at 67-all after a free throw. Dell'Orso finally broke Campbell's offensive stalemate, scoring on a layup that proved to be the game-winner as Elon could not get a final shot off before the final horn.
 
NOTES
• Both teams shot 42 percent from the field in the game with the Phoenix going 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. Elon shot 27 percent from three-point range (6-of-22) compared to 31 percent for Campbell (9-of-29).
• Elon won the rebounding battle, 36-33, and had 15 second-chance points off its nine offensive rebounds. Campbell however forced 15 Phoenix turnovers, scoring 19 points off those miscues.
• Campbell evened the series to 3-3 all-time against Elon at the Division I level. The Phoenix still leads the all-time series overall, 24-15.
 
UP NEXT
Elon gears up for the second half of its CAA schedule, making the short trip down I-40 to face North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Feb. 3. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will air on the CBS Sports Network.