ELON, N.C. – Drew Spradlin knocked down a team-high and career-high 17 points – 10 in the second half – and Devan Carter added a season-high 16 points as Elon upended Georgia Southern for a 75-61 Southern Conference men’s basketball triumph Thursday evening at Alumni Gym.
The Phoenix (10-17 overall, 7-11 SoCon) also received a team-leading seven rebounds from Adam Constantine, a game-high and career-high eight assists from Josh Bonney and 10 points and a contest-best two blocked shots from Ola Atoyebi en route to beating Georgia Southern at “The Nest” for the first time ever in four attempts.
Ben Drayton posted a game-high 26 points, a contest-best nine boards and five assists for the Eagles (8-19 overall, 5-13 SoCon), who also ended up with 11 markers and six caroms by Sandy Perry, 10 points by Colby Wohlleb, five assists by Antonio Hanson – who finished 0-for-4 from long distance despite entering the contest with 77 treys on the season – and a game-high three steals by Anthony Marshall.
Elon erupted to a 17-6 lead on a fast-break bucket by Brett James with 9:29 left to play in the opening stanza. Georgia Southern responded by going on an 11-4 tear to draw to within 21-17 on an inside basket by Perry with 5:20 remaining in the first period.
Via a 35-18 run, the Phoenix sprinted to a 56-35 advantage with 10:24 to go in the game on a jumper by Bonney. The Eagles answered with a 22-13 surge to move to within 69-57 on a free throw by Jeb Brannen with 48 ticks left, but could inch no closer.
“I thought our defense was very good tonight,” Elon coach Ernie Nestor said. “We got a cushion out there and that is very important for us.”
Elon fired 49.1 percent (26 of 53) from the field – 56.5 percent (13 of 23) in the second half – and 81.0 percent (17 of 21) from the free throw line while Georgia Southern shot 38.3 percent (23 of 60) from the floor and 62.5 percent (10 of 16) from the charity stripe. The Phoenix fired 35.3 percent (6 of 17) from three-point range while the Eagles finished at 23.8 percent (5 of 21) from downtown.
Georgia Southern outrebounded Elon 37-33, but committed 14 turnovers to 12 miscues by the Phoenix. Elon edged the Eagles in points off turnovers (10-9), fast-break points (12-9) and bench points (38-12). Georgia Southern outscored the Phoenix 30-28 in the paint and 10-4 off second chances.
Both teams return to action Saturday as Elon, which has now scored 70 or more points in three consecutive contests for the first time this season, visits UNC Greensboro at 2 p.m. and Georgia Southern stops by Davidson at 7 p.m.
–ELON–