Game Notes

2011 SoCon Tournament Bracket

SoCon Tournament Info

ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s basketball team will get postseason play underway on Friday night when it challenges The Citadel in the opening round of the 2011 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn. Elon (13-16, 7-11), seeded fourth in the North Division, won three of its last four contests to close out the regular season, including a win at The Citadel on Feb. 12. The Bulldogs (10-21, 6-12) come into tournament competition as the No. 5 seed in the South Division and have lost eight of their last nine games.

A full ticket package for all games can be purchased for $75 or single session passes are available for $15 each. Special student ticket prices are also available. Tickets are available by calling the Elon ticket office at 336.278.6750. Click on the above SoCon Tournament link for information about travel, live statistics and online video streaming.

Date: Friday, March 4, 2011
Site: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Arena: McKenzie Arena
Radio: 920 AM WPCM — Taylor Durham (play-by-play) and Dick Stewart (color)
Live Statistics: elonphoenix.com
Video Streaming: soconsports.com
Series: Elon leads, 9-4
Last Meeting: Elon won, 79-72, 2/12/11
Streak: Elon has won one

SOCON TOURNAMENT TIDBITS
• Elon is 6-1 in its first game of the Southern Conference Tournament; all but one of those contests have been first round games. The Phoenix is 5-1 in opening round action after defeating Davidson, 66-59, last year.
• Elon will be competing as the No. 4 seed in the North Division for the second time in its history. As the No. 4 seed in 2007-08, Elon won three straight games to make its first-ever appearance in the SoCon championship game, eventually falling to Davidson in the final.
• Since the SoCon moved to divisional play in 1994-95, only four teams have reached the championship game without being a No. 1 or 2 seed. Furman did it in 2002, College of Charleston in 2007, Elon in 2008 and College of Charleston in 2009.
• In the current format, no team has ever won four games to win the tournament title.
• Elon and The Citadel have met only once in the league tournament. The Phoenix defeated the Bulldogs, 66-56, in its first-ever game in the SoCon Tournament in 2003-04.
• Chris Long, Drew Spradlin and Terrance Birdette are the only current Phoenix players to score in double figures in a SoCon Tournament game.

FREE THROWS
• Elon heads to the SoCon Tournament winners of three of its last four games, including one over The Citadel on Feb. 12.
• While the Phoenix has suffered 11 league losses, only four have been by double figures. Four of the losses were by six points or less.
• Point guard Chris Long had an outstanding month of February, averaging 17.0 ppg, 6.7 apg and shooting 50 percent from the field. He was 31-34 (.912) from the free throw line.
• Chris Long ranks first in the SoCon and 18th in the country with an average of 5.8 apg.
• Elon is fifth in the national rankings with 9.1 three-pointers per game. The Phoenix has nailed 47 treys over the last four contests.
• Rookie Lucas Troutman has blocked 25 shots over the last 11 games, giving him a total of 46 on the season. He is tied for fifth on Elon’s single season list and is first in the SoCon with 1.6 per game.
• With 55 steals this season, Chris Long needs just one more to move into a tie for 10th place on the school’s single-season list. He is tied for fifth all-time with 151 takeaways.

LAST TIME OUT
• Elon won the regular-season finale for the first time since the 2005-06 season, defeating Georgia Southern, 72-57, on Saturday.
• The game had a season-high 52 fouls called.
• The second half was the difference as Elon held the Eagles to five field goals and a 29 percent shooting performance from the field. The Phoenix shot 65 percent from field in the final period, outscoring the hosts, 43-25.
• Four Elon players scored in double figures — Elon is 5-2 when that happens.

ELON VS. THE CITADEL
• Elon will be aiming for its second win of the season over The Citadel, having defeated the Bulldogs, 79-72, on Feb. 12.
• Drew Spradlin and Chris Long combined for 40 points in the contest.
• Elon was dominating in the first half and held a commanding 18-point lead at the break. The Phoenix withstood a late Bulldog push.