WILMINGTON, N.C. – A tip-in at the buzzer by freshman
Isaac Harrell helped the Elon University men's basketball team to a 73-72 win at its instate rival, UNCW, on Saturday night, Feb. 17 at Trask Coliseum.
Elon (12-15, 5-9 CAA) won its second straight game overall and its first against the Seahawks (19-7, 10-4 CAA) since Feb. 3, 2022, snapping a five-game losing streak. The Phoenix also handed UNCW its first loss at home this season in front of a sellout crowd.
Max Mackinnon had another monster game for the Phoenix, leading the way with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists.
TK Simpkins added 14 for the maroon and gold while
Sam Sherry contributed with 13.
UNCW had five players score in double figures with Khamari McGriff leading the way with 14. Maleeck Harden-Hayes had 13 while Trazarien White and KJ Jenkins each added 12. Shykeim Phillips nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.
THE RUNDOWN
• UNCW opened the game with a 6-2 lead, but the Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 11-8 after a Mackinnon three-pointer with 16:11 left in the first half before the first media timeout.
• A three-pointer by
LA Pratt gave the Phoenix a 12-11 lead with 14:06 left in the first period while an Harrell free throw added another tally in favor of the maroon and gold. The Seahawks reeled off a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 18-13, after a dunk by Phillips with 11:56 left in the half.
• Elon pulled within three, 20-17, after a fastbreak layup by Pratt after a steal, but a 9-0 run by UNCW gave the Seahawks a 29-17 lead on a layup by Harden-Hayes. Elon's deficit would increase to 15, 34-19, on a Phillips layup with just under six minutes left in the opening half.
• The Phoenix trimmed the Seahawks' lead with a Mackinnon three-pointer to bring the Phoenix within seven, 36-29, with 3:03 left in the period. UNCW got its lead by up by as large as nine, 42-33, with 22 seconds remaining before halftime, but Pratt knocked down a three-pointer just before the buzzer to pull Elon within six, 42-36, at the break.
• Elon began the second half with a 5-0 run to make it a one-point game, 42-41, after a
Nick Dorn layup and a three-pointer by Mackinnon. The Seahawks hit a jumper to go back up by three, but Dorn tied the game at 44-all after a triple with 16:35 left to play.
• UNCW retook the lead and was up by five, 49-44, at the 15-minute mark in the second half. A layup by Simpkins closed the Phoenix's gap to three, but the Jenkins answered with a three to push UNCW's lead to six, 52-46.
• The Seahawks kept a steady lead by as large as seven points over the next seven minutes before Elon rallied to take the lead. Down six with 7:08 left to play, Simpkins went on a personal 8-0 run including hitting back-to-back three-pointers to help give the Phoenix a 65-63 advantage.
• UNCW went to its top scorer White, who was able to tie the game on a jumper before putting the Seahawks in front, 68-65, after converting an and-one with 2:44 left in the contest.
• The Phoenix kept within reach as Mackinnon scored on a layup to bring the Phoenix within one, 68-67, before a jumper by Phillips put the Seahawks back in front by three with just under two minutes left to play.
• Elon traded making a basket with UNCW making free throws as the Phoenix faced a three-point deficit, 72-69, with 24 seconds remaining. On the next possession, Simpkins found
Sam Sherry in the paint for a dunk with seven seconds left to cut the score to 72-71. UNCW was able to inbound the ball and draw a foul with the Seahawks heading to the charity stripe on a one-and-one.
• UNCW however missed the front end of the free throws with the Phoenix quickly gathering the rebound while racing up the court. Simpkins was able to drive to the basket and draw the defense on a layup that went long off backboard. The carom however was tipped back up by Harrell, as the shot rolled around the rim before falling through as the buzzer sounder with Elon escaping with the 73-72 victory.
NOTES
• Harrell's basket was the lone one for the Jonesboro, Ark., native on the night, going 1-of-2 from the field. He led the Phoenix in total rebounds with eight including three on the offensive end.
• Mackinnon had his second straight 20-point game and the eighth of his career. The Brisbane, Australia, native was 3-of-6 from three-point range as well.
• Elon shot 49 percent from the floor (28-of-57) while also shooting 47 percent from three-point range (9-of-19). The Phoenix held the Seahawks to 28 percent shooting from three (8-of-29).
• The Phoenix has faced three of the top five teams standings-wise in the league in its past three games, going 2-1 in that stretch with wins versus Delaware and UNCW and a loss at Towson.
• With an RPI/NET rating of 101, UNCW is the highest-ranked opponent that the Phoenix has defeated since beating Hofstra in 2022 with an RPI/NET ranking of 114.
• Elon handed the Seahawks its first home loss since its 57-53 setback against Towson last February.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will continue its second of three straight road games on Thursday, Feb. 22, as Elon travels north to face Northeastern. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and will air on FloHoops.
-- ELON --
