WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Elon University men's basketball team bounced back with an 81-70 road win at UNCW on Saturday night, Feb. 15, at Trask Coliseum.
 
Elon (16-11, 7-7 CAA) won for the second straight year at UNCW while handing the hosts its first loss to snap a nine-game win streak. TK Simpkins had a season-high 32 points to lead the Phoenix while going 8-of-10 from three-point range – tying for the second-most makes in school history. TJ Simpkins had 13 with Isaac Harrell (11) and Sam Sherry (10) also scoring in double figures.
 
UNCW (21-6, 11-3 CAA) had Sean Moore score 28 to lead the Seahawks' scorers. Nolan Hodge added 18 off the pine.
 
THE RUNDOWN
• The Phoenix got off to a fast start in the opening minutes of the game. The Seahawks hit a three-pointer to start the game, but Elon went on a 16-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 16-7 lead. Elon hit three triples during that stretch including a pair from TK Simpkins.
• Elon went up by 12, 28-16, after TJ Simpkins split a pair at the free throw line at the midway point of the first half. A 9-1 run by UNCW trimmed its deficit to four, 29-25, after a Greedy Williams layup with 7:33 left in the first half.
• The Phoenix responded with a 10-4 run to go back in front by double figures, 39-29, after an Isaac Harrell three with 3:35 left in the opening period. The Seahawks were able to get back within four a couple of times in the final minutes of the half including making the score 43-39 with 48 seconds left. TK Simpkins knocked down a three just before the end of the period as Elon took a 46-39 lead into the locker room.
• TK Simpkins hit another three-pointer to start the second half, giving the Phoenix a 49-39 lead. Elon continued to stay in front by 10, 56-46, after a TK Simpkins jumper with 13:44 left to play.
• TK Simpkins continued his three-point barrage with another triple with 10:14 left to play that gave the Phoenix a 63-54 lead. A 7-0 run by the Seahawks nearly erased the advantage for Elon after Moore converted an and-one play, bringing the score to 63-61 with 8:26 left in the game.
• A Van Komen dunk put the Phoenix up by four, but UNCW responded with a three on the other end to make it a one-point game, 65-64. Elon was able to go back in front by four, 70-66, after a Brayden Crump three-pointer with just over five minutes remaining.
• UNCW made it a one-possession game, 70-68, after a layup with 4:54 left to play. Elon came back with a 7-0 run to push its lead back to nine. TK Simpkins hit his eighth three of the game during that stretch – a dagger with 1:39 left in the game – before Elon moved ahead 77-68 after a pair of TJ Simpkins free throws.
• UNCW would convert on a layup for its final tally of the night as the Phoenix closed out the game at the free throw line for the 81-70 win.
 
NOTES
• Sherry became the 26^th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points on his first basket of the game. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native grabbed two rebounds and is three away from 500 in his career.
• Van Komen had five blocked shots on the night – his eighth game with four or more rejections. The Lehi, Utah, native increased his season total to 66 on the season, setting a new program single-season record for blocks to break the 64 mark set by Lucas Troutman in 2012-13.
• The 16 wins for Elon are the most for the program since also having 16 victories in 2015-16. The Phoenix's seven CAA wins ties for the second-most total for the team in school history.
• The 32 points for TK Simpkins were a new Elon-high for the Brooklyn, N.Y., native. His eight treys were one shy of the school record of nine shared by Sebastian Koch and Steven Santa Ana.
 
UP NEXT
Elon is back at home on Thursday, Feb. 20, hosting Towson. Tip-off between the Phoenix and the Tigers is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will stream on FloCollege (FloHoops).