Elon Men’s Basketball Begins 2015-16 Season at Charlotte

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s basketball team opens the 2015-16 season on the road against the Charlotte 49ers on Friday night, Nov. 13, in Halton Arena at 8:30 p.m.

The game will be televised on the American Sports Network (ASN). You can search and find out if the game will be televised by clicking HERE and typing in your zip code.

You can listen to the game live on WSML 104.5 FM/1200 AM with Taylor Durham and John Roddey on the call on the Elon IMG Sports Network. Pre-game coverage begins at 8 p.m.

ELON AT CHARLOTTE
Sunday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Elon and Charlotte and fourth during the Division I era. The 49ers hold the 3-1 edge in the all-time series. The 49ers have taken three out of four meetings, including last year’s 73-60 victory in Alumni Gym. Tanner Samson scored 11 points in the setback, and Ryan Winters recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Phoenix and 49ers last met in the Queen City during the 2013-14 season. Charlotte came out with the 83-69 victory at Halton Arena. Elon’s lone win over Charlotte was a 77-70 decision in the 1970 NAIA District 22 Tournament consolation game.

LAST TIME OUT
Dainan Swoope tabbed a game-high 23 points for the Phoenix as the Elon University men’s basketball team defeated the William Peace Pacers 95-73 on Thursday night, Nov. 5, in Alumni Gym in its lone exhibition contest of the 2015-16 season.

A total of four Phoenix finished in double figures. Tanner Samson notched 14 points and three rebounds, Tyler Seibring chalked up 11 points and a game-high eight boards, and Steven Santa Ana tallied 11 points off the bench. Luke Eddy dished out a game-high eight assists for Elon.

A LOOK AT ELON
The Phoenix is coming off a 15-18 overall and 6-12 conference campaign in its inaugural year in the CAA under seventh-year head coach Matt Matheny. Elon has a young squad this season with 10 of the 18 members either at freshman or sophomore status.

Elon welcomes back two starters from last season’s squad in seniors Tanner Samson (12.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Tony Sabato (3.5ppg, 2.3 rpg). The Phoenix is returning a total of 11 non-starters. Senior guard Sam Hershberger joins Samson and Sabato make up this year’s three-member senior class.

The Phoenix graduated one of the winningest classes in school history, as Kevin Blake, Austin Hamilton, and Ryan Winters posted a total of 69 wins during their tenure — the most by a senior class in program history during Elon’s Division I era.

The team welcomes five newcomers to the squad this season, including Sheldon Eberhardt (Fr., G, 6-5, 185, Apex, N.C.), Karolis Kundrotas (Fr., F/C, 6-11, 240, Kaunas, Lithuania), Steven Santa Ana (Fr., G, 6-4, 185, Charlotte, N.C.), Tyler Seibring (Fr., F, 6-8, 225, Towanda, Ill.) and Dainan Swoope (Fr., G, 6-0, 185, Kansas City, Kan.).

ELON ON THE BIG STAGE
Elon will appear on television eight times this season, including three occasions in Alumni Gym. American Sports Network (ASN) will carry Elon’s home conference games against Drexel (Jan. 2), Hofstra (Jan. 9), and Towson (Feb. 6), in addition to the road non-conference game on Friday at Charlotte (Nov. 13).

Elon’s road games at Michigan (Nov. 16) and at Syracuse (Nov. 21) will be broadcasted live on ESPN3, while the Phoenix’s Dec. 28 matchup in Cameron Indoor Stadium vs. Duke will be carried on ESPNU.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix hits the road on Monday, Nov. 16, for a first-ever meeting with the Preseason AP Poll No. 25-ranked Michigan Wolverines at the Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN3. Elon’s home opener is on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. against Belmont Abbey.