ELON – The Elon men's basketball team opened Coastal Athletic Association play in style Monday night, erupting for 57 second-half points to pull away for a 103-91 victory over Northeastern at the Schar Center.
 
The Phoenix (9-5, 1-0 CAA) shot a blistering 62.1% from the floor (36-of-58) and finished with five players scoring at least nine points, highlighted by twin 28-point outbursts from Kacper Klaczek and Chandler Cuthrell. Klaczek turned in a dominant all-around performance, adding 12 rebounds and five assists on 10-of-12 shooting that included 4-of-6 from three. Cuthrell matched his teammate with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, knocking down a pair of triples and going 6-for-6 at the foul line.
 
Elon led 46-43 at halftime before finding another gear offensively after the break. The Phoenix attacked the rim and shared the ball effectively, finishing the night with a season-high 21 assists while scoring 44 points in the paint and 14 second-chance points.
 
Randall Pettus II added 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, Isaac Harrell chipped in nine points and six rebounds, and Ja'Juan Carr tallied a season-best nine assists. Elon also connected on 12-of-27 (44.4%) from beyond the arc and went 19-for-25 (76.0%) at the free-throw line. Defensively, the Phoenix forced 14 Northeastern turnovers and converted them into 14 points.
 
Despite the loss, Northeastern (4-8, 0-1) shot the ball well from distance, finishing 14-of-21 from three (66.7%). Ty Francis led the Huskies with 23 points, William Kermoury scored 20 on a 6-of-9 clip from deep, and Mike Loughnane added 13.
 
Elon secured a 32-21 rebounding advantage and closed strong to hit the 100-point mark for the first time this season.
 
NOTES

• Elon's 103 points are its highest total since scoring 114 against Virginia Lynchburg on Dec. 14, 2024. It marks the second time Elon has reached triple digits in a CAA game, the first coming in a 104-105 double-overtime loss against Northeastern on Feb. 23, 2017.
• Elon's 62.1% field-goal percentage is its fourth-highest mark of the Division I era (1999-present). It is just the seventh time in that span the Phoenix has shot 60% or better in a game.
• Klaczek's 28 points were a career high. In six games since Dec. 6 – Elon is 5-1 in that span – Klaczek is shooting 74% from the field (37 of 50) and 64.7% from beyond the arc (11 of 17).
• Klaczek is only the fourth player in Division I this season to total at least 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a single game.
• Cuthrell's 28 points were one shy of tying his career high. It is the 11th time in 14 games this season the graduate forward has topped 20 points.
• Seven different Phoenix made at least one 3-pointer. Elon has made 10-plus 3-pointers in nine games this season.

 
UP NEXT
Elon will go for a 2-0 start in CAA play when it hosts College of Charleston at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday.
 
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