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Despite a 2-14 start to a season that is destined to tear most teams apart, the three Elon University men’s basketball stars have stood tall.
sophomore center Sam Shelley When Elon started the game, he said he could feel the unity of the team. Shelley won his chips the opening of the game and Phoenix started firing on all cylinders to start his first 20 minutes of play.
“We came out of the gate with confidence, which gave us a hot start early in the first half,” said Shelley. “A lot of the players were able to get to their places and the offense was clicking for us. If I can use it in the next match, I am confident that I have a chance to win.”
Nine Elon players touched hardwood in the first 20 minutes, the most ever in a game this season.graduate student guard Sean Halloran Sharing the love, we set up seven different teammates in the basket in the first half.
For the first time in a long time, Phoenix played a healthy, full roster and was something of a head coach. Billy Taylor I’ve been wanting this since early November. He said it was the best part of basketball this team played all season.
“I was really happy with how this team played in the first 20 minutes of this game,” said Taylor. “The offense was a click. A lot of different people got good touches. We played with confidence.”
Phoenix started the game with a 7-2 run and outplayed North Carolina A&T State’s Aggies throughout the first half. For the first time all season, Phoenix survived the first half against a Division I opponent without trailing after 20 minutes. Holding the Aggies to just 39 points, Elon finished the half with a 7-point lead.
North Carolina A&T fought back in the second half. Aggies’ half-time adjustment allowed them to take an early lead, which they maintained for much of the second.
A slump on the field in the second half was too much for Elon to overcome, but Phoenix are looking to build on the momentum they built throughout the first half. Closing of the season.
Game ended with final score 80-71 Favors A&T.Graduate student guard even if you lose Thorrence WatsonElon, who finished with a team-high 15 points, said Elon hasn’t given up his fighting spirit.
“There will be tough times. We are going through tough times right now. But we know we can get through it,” said Watson. It’s hard to lose all of us.It’s my job to keep this team positive especially the young players.It’s my job to let the young people know that tough times are coming but you You never know when the next win will come, and now we’re looking for that next win, we hope it’s bad, and , I know it’s coming soon.”
The loss put Elon on a 16-game losing streak against Division I opponents, with the last win coming in last season’s team’s regular season finale.
Phoenix is set to take on the Colonial Athletic Association’s best team this weekend as the team looks to build on the momentum it has built against the Aggies. Elon will travel to Charleston on January 14 where he will face Cougars University. It was ranked 22nd in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Cougars currently sit at the top of the CAA’s regular season standings with an all-time record 16-1 start. Phoenix will have just one day off after playing Charleston before facing the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks on January 16.
Talking about how this team prepares for its toughest road trip to date, Taylor said he hopes Phoenix will be hungry for their next win.
“Our guys are locked up. They’re always like that. Every time you step on the court, it’s the same mindset. For us it’s a matter of if we can do it and if we can do it in 40 minutes.” says Taylor. “We’ve been playing really good basketball in the stretch this year, but we have to find a way to do that in the full game. , our fellows are learning. Ultimately, I know this helps make this team a better character.”
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