Box Score Game box (pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford men’s basketball team used a strong defensive performance in a 60-50 win over Elon on Thursday night at Benjamin Johnson Arena.  The Terriers were down by one point at the half, but outscored the Phoenix by eleven in the second half to end Elon’s winning streak at seven games.

Wofford moves to 9-15 on the season and 3-8 in the Southern Conference. Elon is 15-9 overall and 8-3 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by freshman Spencer Collins with 16 points, while Karl Cochran added 13 points and Lee Skinner had ten. Indiana Faithfull had eight points, eight rebounds and two assists. The Phoenix was led by Ryley Beaumont with 17 points and seven rebounds, while current SoCon Player of the Week Lucas Troutman was held to ten points.

“We had better movement and our passing was better tonight,” said head coach Mike Young. “We had the ball in better places and did a nice job of attacking the rim which is reflected in the number of times we got to the foul line in the second half. We guarded them very well tonight. It was a little bit of a tractor pull in the first half, but it was a pretty good basketball game in the second half. We will take it and keep on going as we get ready for UNCG on Saturday night.”

The Phoenix scored first and they built a 7-2 lead after the first four minutes of play. Wofford scored the next four points to cut the lead to 7-6 with 14:51 on the clock. Spencer Collins gave the Terriers a 10-9 advantage after a jumper by Spencer Collins at the 10:15 mark. Elon had a three bank in off the glass as the shot clock expired for a 12-10 lead, but a drive to the basket by Lee Skinner tied the game at 12 after eight minutes.

Wofford took a 14-12 lead on a shot by Spencer Collins with 6:58 remaining in the first half. The Terriers continued the 8-1 run and had an 18-13 lead at the five minute mark. Back-to-back three pointers by the Phoenix gave them a 19-18 advantage with 3:36 left on the clock. A free throw by James Long, his first career point, tied the game at 19. A bucket by Lee Skinner with 59 seconds remaining gave Wofford a 21-20 lead. Elon scored the final bucket of the half for a 22-21 advantage at the break.

To open the second half, Wofford scored first and a dunk by Karl Cochran made it a 25-22 lead. Elon answered with a three to tie the game at 25 before two free throws by Spencer Collins gave the Terriers a 27-25 lead with 16:57 on the clock. Wofford pushed the lead to 33-27 after a break-away dunk by Spencer Collins at the 15:42 mark. Elon answered with the next four points before C.J. Neumann hit a pair of free throws for a 35-31 lead.

The Terriers used a three pointer by Indiana Faithfull to take a 40-34 lead with 10:40 left in the second half. A break-away lay-up by Karl Cochran and two free throws by C.J. Neumann gave the Terriers a 44-36 lead at the 7:55 mark. Back-to-back buckets by Lee Skinner and Indiana Faithfull pushed the advantage to 52-40 with 3:36 on the clock. After Elon hit a three, the Terriers scored the next six points for a 58-45 lead with 55 seconds left. Another three by Elon cut the score to 59-50 with just 14.7 on the clock, but Wofford added one free throw for the 60-50 final.

Wofford shot 42.9% from the floor while Elon shot 37.3% overall. The Terriers were 1-of-6 from with three, while the Phoenix was 7-of-25 from behind the arc. Elon was 5-of-12 from the line while Wofford was 17-of-23 on free throws. The Terriers had a 35 to 32 lead on the glass. John Swinton missed the game due to injury.

Wofford will remain at home for a contest on Saturday night against UNCG at 7:00 p.m. before road games at Western Carolina and Samford.