Elon University Athletics

ELON – Josh Dalton scored 14 points to lead three players in double figures, and the Elon men's basketball team used a 45-22 rebounding advantage to defeat Piedmont Triad rival UNCG 74-65 Friday night in its home opener at Schar Center.
 
The Phoenix (2-0) earned its third consecutive victory over the Spartans (1-1) and opened a season with back-to-back wins for the second straight year. Isaiah Mbeng contributed 12 points off the bench, including 10 in the second half, while Bryson Cokley added 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Raúl Villar finished with eight points, eight rebounds and a team-high five assists. Korbin Dixon matched Villar with eight rebounds as Elon more than doubled UNCG's total on the boards. The Phoenix also held a 29-2 advantage in bench scoring.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Following a 13-13 tie, Hunter Harding's layup with 12:19 remaining in the first half gave Elon the lead for good and started a 9-0 run. Dalton followed with a 3-pointer before baskets from Cokley and Mbeng pushed the advantage to 22-13.
• The Phoenix closed the first half on a 10-0 run, holding UNCG scoreless over the final 5:28 to take a 39-22 halftime lead. Harding scored four points during the closing stretch and finished the half with eight points and six rebounds. Elon outrebounded the Spartans 24-12 before the break.
• UNCG scored the first 10 points of the second half and eventually pulled within 45-39 with 14:45 remaining. Mbeng answered with two 3-pointers during a 10-2 Elon response, and two Cokley free throws restored a 55-41 advantage with 10:59 left.
• The Spartans cut the deficit to seven with 3:56 remaining, but Villar responded with a layup and two free throws on Elon's next two possessions to extend the lead to 67-56.
• UNCG drew within 71-65 with 1:49 left, but Elon held the visitors scoreless the rest of the way. The Spartans missed their final five field-goal attempts, while Dixon grabbed a defensive rebound and made two free throws with 27 seconds remaining. Cokley added a free throw with 12 seconds left to complete the scoring.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Dalton led Elon in scoring for the second consecutive game, shooting 5-of-9 from the field. He has totaled 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting (59.1%) through his first two games with the Phoenix.
• Mbeng shot 5-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and added two assists and a steal. He made four of his five field-goal attempts in the second half.
• Villar recorded at least five assists for the second straight game. He has 12 assists against two turnovers through his first two Elon appearances.
• Elon collected 14 offensive rebounds while allowing just three, finishing with a 10-2 edge in second-chance points. The Phoenix also outscored UNCG 32-24 in the paint.
• All 10 Phoenix players who appeared scored. Cam Thrower contributed seven points and five rebounds, while Caleb Zhu added six points, three offensive rebounds and a block.
• Freshman guard Dacen Petty made his collegiate debut, scoring his first two points on free throws.
• RJ Greer led UNCG with 18 points, while Dionte Neal and Jon Mani scored 16 apiece.

 
UP NEXT
Elon returns to the road to face George Washington next Tuesday. Tipoff at the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C., is slated 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
For further coverage of Elon men's basketball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonMBasketball) and Instagram (@ElonMBasketball).