Men's basketball suffers two losses after win over ETSU
Colin Donohue / Editor Emeritus
The Elon men's basketball team had fallen behind by
eight points early in the second half against Western
Carolina Saturday, but the Phoenix, who had been winners of
their last three games, demonstrated the resilience and moxie
to which they had become accustomed during their win streak.
They fought back to take a 49-45 lead with less than 3:30
left in the second half following a Le'Vonn Jordan
3-point play. It appeared Elon had landed the decisive blow
against Western Carolina. The fourth victory in four games
was now just a formality. But over that final three and half
minutes, Elon failed to score while Western Carolina ripped
off a 10-0 run to grab the lead and win, 54-49.
In a moment, Elon's win streak had ended, but more
disconcerting was the apparent regression in their play. All
the mistakes, breakdowns and missed shots that defined their
14-game losing streak from earlier in the year had
disappeared during their short win streak. Suddenly, the
Phoenix were back where they started.
"We came out flat and we didn't execute," said
sophomore forward Le'Vonn Jordan after the loss to
Western Carolina. "We dug ourselves in a hole like
we've done 20 other times this year. I don't know
where (our poor play came from), but wherever it came from
tonight, I hope it stays there and never shows its face
again."
Its face did show again Monday night against Wofford, as
Elon demonstrated a lack of offensive continuity and many
second-half defensive meltdowns. The Phoenix lost 75-63.
Elon (5-21 overall, 3-10) started the game well enough,
getting easy baskets off penetration and open shots. Wofford
closed the first half on a 10-2 run, though, and opened the
second half with two quick 3-pointers to take a 43-30 lead.
Elon pulled to within eight points with less than five
minutes in the game, but Wofford would not let the Phoenix
get any closer.
Wofford scored 22 points off 16 Elon turnovers, while the
Phoenix only scored five points off 11 Terriers'
turnovers.
"In the second half, they just sliced and diced us
because they had the lead, and we didn't have the ball
pressure," head coach Ernie Nestor said, whose team
plays next Saturday at The Citadel. "We don't have
the margin of error. When we get behind, we need everything
going. We have to make every layup. We have to make every
foul shot. We just weren't very good out there
tonight."
Part of Elon's offensive problems against Wofford
stemmed from its impatience on offense.
"We're playing like we're down 20 points and
there's three minutes to go," said Nestor, eluding
to the fact that Elon rarely ran through their offensive set
entirely. "We really have to have offensive control.
When we're just passing around the perimeter and driving
on guys, the defense rotates. We're playing just too
frazzled on offense."
Colin Wyatt and Jordan scored 11 points apiece against
Wofford. Jordan also added 15 points and nine rebounds
against Western Carolina. Guards Brian Waters and Montell
Watson added 13 points apiece against Wofford, as well.
The players for the most part, though, cannot seem to
ascertain the root of their problems the past two games.
"It is surprising because we'd been playing well in
practice all week," Wyatt said after the loss to
Wofford. "We're having good practices, and we were
ready for the game. I don't know what it is, I don't
know. You can't put your finger on it."
Watson, who had seen his playing time decrease with the
emergence of freshman Brian Waters and scored his first field
goal Monday since the end of January, said the Phoenix are
simply not playing fundamental basketball.
"Everybody was doing the little things (during the win
streak), boxing out every play, playing help defense, taking
charges, getting on the floor, keeping our head and staying
focused in the game," he said.
"Our offense had no flow at all (against Wofford).
It's just the little things. It just all goes back to the
little things. That's all it is."
Nestor added that teams are having success executing their
game plans against Elon. He said it has added to the
frustration level of his players.
"I think our guys are struggling from the fact that
they come in to play games and people prepare to play against
them," Nestor said.
"They're going to get into Scottie early.
They're going to get into Brian (Waters) and get a charge
driving. They're going to play Le'Vonn physically. I
mean they know our guys. We've played enough games.
There's enough tape circulating out there about what our
strengths are weaknesses are. We're not the only one that
scouts, you know. Everybody does, everybody prepares. Right
now with the way we're playing, it's very difficult
for us."
Contact Colin Donohue at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
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