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ELON – The Elon men’s basketball team will go for its third straight win when it hosts Richmond on Wednesday night at the Schar Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET with FloCollege streaming the nonconference contest.
GAME INFORMATION
INSIDE THE MATCHUP – ELON vs. RICHMOND
- Series record: Richmond leads, 2-0
- Elon (6-4) and Richmond will clash on the hardwood for the first time in 21 years when they meet Wednesday night. The Spiders are 2-0 all-time against Elon, most recently winning 80-66 in Richmond, Virginia, on Nov. 26, 2004. The programs first met over 100 years ago in Richmond on Jan. 27, 1921, resulting in a 30-28 overtime loss for the Phoenix.
- Richmond (9-1) has won four straight games entering Wednesday’s contest, most recently including a 93-84 overtime win against Southern Illinois last Saturday. The Spiders have played just one true road game, defeating Belmont 84-76 in Nashville on Dec. 3.
STARTING FIVE
1. All Aboard The Cuthrell Train
Graduate forward Chandler Cuthrell has emerged as one of the nation’s most productive scorers, ranking third nationally and leading the CAA at 22.7 points per game. A first-year Phoenix, Cuthrell scores efficiently at all three levels, shooting 54.7% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc (12-of-33), while consistently pressuring defenses off the dribble. He has been particularly effective getting to the free throw line, ranking fifth nationally with 92 attempts and converting at a 70.7 percent clip (65-of-92). Cuthrell also contributes 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, and is one of only two Division I players averaging at least 22.0 points and 7.0 rebounds this season, joining Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
2. Show Some Grit
The Phoenix erased an 11-point second-half deficit and held Northern Illinois without a field goal for the final 9:48 as it rallied to an 85-79 victory Saturday afternoon at Schar Center. Kacper Klaczek and Chandler Cuthrell powered the comeback with a combined 44 points as Elon earned its first win of the season when trailing at halftime. The rally was built in the paint, where the Phoenix scored a season-high 48 points, offsetting a season-worst 3-of-19 shooting performance from beyond the arc.
3. It’s Raining Threes
Despite an off night in last Saturday’s win against NIU, Elon remains the CAA’s most prolific perimeter shooting team, ranking first in the league in 3-pointers made (10.0 per game) and attempted (28.4), while sitting fourth in 3-point percentage (35.2%). The Phoenix opened the season with five straight games of 10-plus threes from Nov. 5-20 and added 11 more against Furman on Dec. 3. All eight Phoenix who have connected from beyond the arc this season have made at least four, led by Randall Pettus II, who is shooting 47.8% from deep (32-of-67) with multiple makes in all 10 games. Pettus also leads the conference in both 3-point percentage and 3-pointers per game (3.20). Though early, this group is on pace to become just the fourth Phoenix team in the Division I era (1999-present) to average double figures from beyond the arc.
4. Calling For Backup
Sophomore Bryson Cokley has emerged as a reliable scoring spark off the bench and continues to expand his game as the season progresses. A transfer from George Mason – and originally a Wake Forest commit out of high school – Cokley ranks third on the team in scoring (11.6 PPG) while averaging 23.5 minutes in a reserve role. He has scored in double figures in eight of 10 games and has also elevated his presence on the glass, averaging 5.6 rebounds in six games since Nov. 20 after grabbing just 2.5 boards per game through the first four.
5. Maroon Travels
Elon has won its past two road games by a combined 56 points, defeating Appalachian State 88-53 in Boone on Nov. 24 before most recently stomping Wofford 73-52 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Dec. 6. The 35-point win against the Mountaineers stands as the program’s largest margin of victory in a road game in its Division I era (1999-present). Elon looked ready to rewrite that record in Spartanburg when it took a 50-15 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Phoenix is 3-2 on the road this season and 6-3 in its past nine nonconference road games dating back to Nov. 20, 2024.
UP NEXT
Elon plays its penultimate nonconference game at Virginia Tech on Saturday. Tipoff at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg is at 2 p.m. ET.
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club. To purchase 2025-26 tickets, visit TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon men’s basketball, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonMBasketball) and Instagram (@ElonMBasketball).
