ELON – The Elon men's basketball team opens its 2026-27 season Monday when it visits Columbia for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff at Levien Gymnasium in New York. The game will air on ESPN+.
 
Head coach Billy Taylor begins his fifth season with the Phoenix, welcoming 10 scholarship newcomers alongside returning double-figure scorers Bryson Cokley and Randall Pettus II. Cokley, a Preseason All-CAA Second Team selection, averaging 12.3 points per game last season, while Pettus averaged 11.0.
 
INFO – GAME 1 AT COLUMBIA

• Date & Time: Monday, Nov. 2 | 7 p.m. ET
• Location: New York, New York | Levien Gymnasium
• Watch: ESPN+ (PxP: Lance Medow | Analyst: Barry Rohrssen)
• Listen: Elon Sports Network | The Varsity Network App (PxP: Taylor Durham)
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast
• Game Notes: Elon vs. Columbia

 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Series record: Elon leads, 3-1
• Elon and Columbia meet for the fifth time and first since Dec. 1, 2013, when the Phoenix earned a 68-65 overtime victory at Alumni Gym. The programs previously met in four consecutive seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14.
• All four meetings have been decided by five points or fewer, with Elon's three victories coming by a combined five points.
• Elon has won both previous meetings at Levien Gymnasium by identical 70-69 scores. Both victories featured a game-winning shot in the final three seconds, with Chris Long delivering in 2011 and Jack Isenbarger providing the heroics in 2012.
• Elon head coach Billy Taylor owns a 3-2 record against Columbia, having faced the Lions five times between 2002-07 as the head coach at Lehigh.

 
STARTING FIVE
1. Backcourt Continuity
Elon returns two of only three players who finished among the CAA's top 30 scorers in 2025-26 and remained at their respective schools for 2026-27. Junior guard Bryson Cokley averaged 12.3 points per game and senior guard Randall Pettus II averaged 11.0 in their first seasons with the Phoenix. Cokley earned Preseason All-CAA Second Team honors after shooting 39.2% from 3-point range, including 43.6% in conference play. Pettus led Elon in both 3-pointers made (67) and steals (44) while starting 31 of 32 games.
 
2. Building Through The Portal
Elon added seven scholarship transfers and three scholarship freshmen for 2026-27, giving the Phoenix 10 newcomers among its 13 scholarship players. Raúl Villar (Charlotte) and Isaiah Mbeng (East Carolina) provide options at point guard, while Cam Thrower (Penn) and Korbin Dixon (Emory & Henry) add perimeter experience. Marko Šarenac (Barry) and Hunter Harding (Indiana State) bring size to the post, with Josh Dalton (Loyola Marymount) providing a stretch-four option. Dixon averaged 17.9 points last season, while Šarenac averaged a double-double with 14.2 points and 11.3 rebounds.
 
3. Experience On The Bench
Billy Taylor added assistant coach John Krikorian and special assistant to the head coach Steve Robinson this offseason. Krikorian compiled a 427-126 record across 19 seasons as a Division III head coach and led Christopher Newport to the 2023 national championship. His Captains teams reached four Final Fours and 12 NCAA Tournaments. Robinson's 42-year coaching career includes 31 NCAA Tournament appearances and eight Final Fours. He won three national championships as an assistant at North Carolina and previously spent seven seasons as a Division I head coach at Tulsa and Florida State.
 
4. A Head Start In Greece
Elon completed 10 practices before its Aug. 2-11 Global Experience trip to Greece, where the Phoenix played three exhibition games. The additional court time gave Billy Taylor and his staff an early opportunity to test lineups and help a largely new roster learn how to play together. After the extended summer schedule, the Phoenix had a shorter fall buildup before official practice. The Global Experience combined basketball with academic, cultural and community activities, including a clinic in Athens where Elon's men's and women's teams led 60 young athletes from Proteas Voulas Basketball Club through basketball drills.
 
5. Summer Success With Spain
Raúl Villar and Iker Garmendia helped Spain finish 6-1 and claim bronze at the 2026 FIBA U20 EuroBasket. Villar earned All-Star Five honors after leading the tournament with 7.0 assists per game while averaging 8.9 points. His performances included 16 points and 12 assists in a quarterfinal victory over Germany. Garmendia averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals in five appearances. Villar joins Elon after his freshman season at Charlotte, while Garmendia, a redshirt sophomore who began his collegiate career at UIC, is one of three scholarship returnees.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix plays its home opener against UNCG at Schar Center on Friday, Nov. 6. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets, single-game tickets and flex packs for the 2026-27 Elon men's basketball season are on sale at ElonTickets.com.
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon men's basketball through the Phoenix Club.
 
STAY POSTED
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