Box Score Game Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Wofford College men’s basketball team was defeated 66-57 by Elon on Saturday night in Southern Conference play. The Terriers began the second half with a 11-0 run, but were unable to gain the lead.

The Terriers are 4-3 overall and 1-1 in SoCon play. Elon is 5-4 overall and 3-0 in conference play. Wofford was led in scoring by Shane Nichols with 13 points. Noah Dahlman led the team with eight rebounds. Montell Watson and Ola Atoyebi each had 16 points for the Phoenix.

Elon scored first, but the Terriers regained the lead with at three pointer by Junior Salters. The Phoenix then increased the lead to 12-5, as Wofford went 6:30 without a point. Drew Gibson ended the drought with a jumper. After pulling to 14-9, Elon went on an 8-0 run to take a 22-9 lead before Noah Dahlman hit a two and added a free throw.

Brett James hit a three for the Phoenix, which was matched by Wofford with a three by Shane Nichols. At the end of the first half, Elon had a 29-17 lead. The seventeen points in the first half were the fewest this season by the Terriers in a half, as Wofford shot only 33.3% from the floor.

In the second half, Wofford came out strong with a 11-0 run, keyed by two baskets each by Drew Gibson and Shane Nichols, to cut the lead to 29-28 at 15:46. After Terry Martin hit a basket and free throw, the Terriers were able to tie the game at 31-31 at 14:24.

Elon then was able to retake the lead at 42-35 at the 8:40 mark in the second half. Wofford cut the lead back to two points with five straight, but then back-to-back threes by Montell Watson and Brett James extended the lead again.

Following a three-pointer by Junior Salters at 3:33, the Phoenix lead was 50-46. Another three by Montell Watson as the shot clock expired gave Elon a 53-46 advantage with 2:33 left in the game. After four free throws by Elon, Drew Gibson hit a three for a 57-49 score with 1:05 remaining. Solid nine-of-ten free throw shooting in the last minute of the game gave Elon a 66-57 win.

Wofford was out-rebounded 38-25; the Terriers have lost all three games this season in which they have been out-rebounded. Wofford shot 40.0% for the game, while Elon was 46.7% from the floor.

The game was the first of five straight on the road for the Terriers. Wofford will be at Alabama on Monday night at 8:00 pm ET. The game will be televised live on CSS. The next home game will be Tuesday, January 3 against Chattanooga.