ELON – The Elon men's basketball team is back at Schar Center on Saturday night to host Gardner-Webb in a nonconference affair. Tipoff between the Phoenix (2-1) and the Runnin' Bulldogs (0-3) is set for 8 p.m. ET, following the Elon women's basketball team's home game against Howard at 5 p.m. ET.
 
GAME INFORMATION

• Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 15 | 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Elon, North Carolina | Schar Center
• Watch: FloCollege
• Listen: Elon Sports Network | The Varsity Network App | PxP: Taylor Durham | Analyst: Will Roberson
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast

 
ELON NPHC BUCKETS & BOOK DRIVE

• Fans attending Saturday's basketball doubleheader at Schar Center can partner with Elon's National Pan-Hellenic Council by donating new and gently-used books for K-12 students in the Alamance Burlington School System.

 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP – ELON vs. GARDNER-WEBB

• Series record: Gardner-Webb leads, 24-12
• Elon and Gardner-Webb met last year in Boiling Springs, with the Runnin' Bulldogs winning 80-79 on Nov. 15, 2024. It was the two programs' first meeting since 2010 in a 36-game series that dates back to 1972.
• Gardner-Webb is winless to start the season following three straight losses to Minnesota (87-60), Clemson (97-59) and NCAA Division II North Greenville (92-81).
• The Phoenix is coming off its first loss of the season, a 96-89 defeat at Marshall on Wednesday.

 
STARTING FIVE
1. Bounce Back
The Phoenix will look to quickly return to the win column Saturday after suffering a 96-89 loss at Marshall on Wednesday. The offense continued to excel with three double-figure scorers – led by a career-high 28 points from Chandler Cuthrell – leading the way to 89 points; Elon leads the Coastal Athletic Association in points per game (93.3) through its first three contests. Defensively, however, the Phoenix surrendered 15 made 3-pointers (on 32 attempts) to the Thundering Herd and could not overcome a double-digit deficit for the majority of the second half.
 
2. Protect The Rock
The Phoenix has been exceptionally clean with the basketball through its first three outings, posting just 6.7 turnovers per game to rank fourth nationally. Elon also sits in eighth in NCAA Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.5, underscoring the team's collective selflessness and decision making. That ball security has translated to a +8.0 turnover margin – the best mark in the CAA and the 23rd best in the country.
 
3. Big Boosts
Graduate forwards Chandler Cuthrell and Kacper Klaczek have delivered major production through the early stages of the season. The pair powered Elon's overtime win at UNCG with a combined 45 points and 23 rebounds, highlighted by Klaczek's 25-point, 13-rebound effort and Cuthrell's 20-point, 10-board performance. Their dual 20-point, 10-rebound lines marked the first by an Elon tandem in the same game since Tyler Seibring and Dmitri Thompson accomplished the feat on Feb. 23, 2017. Cuthrell – who leads the CAA with 23.0 PPG – followed that double-double effort with his third consecutive 20-point effort to start the year, a career-high 28 points at Marshall.
 
4. Let It Fly
Elon is averaging a CAA-leading 11.7 made 3-pointers per game, having knocked down 10-plus threes in three straight games for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Junior guard Randall Pettus II leads the early surge, connecting on 50% (9 of 18) of his attempts from deep. Eight different players have already recorded at least one make from long range, including Klaczek (7 of 15, 46.7%) and Ned Hull (4 of 7, 57.1%).
 
5. The Rookie & The Vet
Elon's point guard duties have primarily run through graduate guard Ja'Juan Carr and freshman DeMarco Johnson, who have combined for an efficient 28-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio through three games. Carr – who helped guide UNC Pembroke to three consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament berths from 2023-25 – posted seven assists without a turnover in the overtime win at UNCG and carries an 11-to-2 ratio overall. Johnson has led the Phoenix in assists twice already, including an 8-to-1 line at Marshall on Wednesday, as well as a 6-to-1 effort in his collegiate debut against Belmont Abbey on Nov. 5.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will face ACC foe Miami on the road next Thursday. Tipoff at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, is at 7 p.m. ET and the nonconference game will be televised on ACC Network Extra.
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club. To purchase 2025-26 season tickets, visit TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets.
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon men's basketball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonMBasketball) and Instagram (@ElonMBasketball).