By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
It was disturbing on several layers for the Elon men’s basketball team last Thursday night.
The 76-58 loss to Campbell was just part of the gloom that involved both teams at Gore Arena in Buies Creek
A devastating first-half injury to Campbell senior guard Jasin Sinani cast a pall over the Coastal Athletic Association game.
Following an Elon turnover, the Camels took off on a fastbreak with Sinani attempting a dunk. He was fouled by Elon’s T.J. Simpkins, crashing to the floor.
A hush soon fell over the arena as medical personnel raced to the end of the court. Sinani suffered a gruesome lower-leg or ankle injury and he was soon shielded from view of spectators as he was screaming in anguish in front of the Campbell pep band and not far from Elon’s bench.
During the delay, several Campbell players left the court area in anguish and Elon team members gathered in prayer at their bench. Elon coach Billy Taylor went to console Campbell coach Kevin McGeehan.
“At that point, it’s bigger than the game,” Taylor said later.
Several minutes into the delay, a situation a few rows behind the Campbell bench developed that required medical attention.
Sinani left the court on a stretcher to an ovation that included participation from the three game officials.
“I feel so awful for Sinani, who’s a great player, who’s a competitor,” Taylor said. “He has been a winner in this league. You never want to see anybody get hurt. It’s gut-wrenching. It does make you appreciate how lucky we are to play this game.
“Our heart goes out for the kid, the rest of the Campbell team.”
There was 5:15 remaining in the half with Campbell holding a 29-16 lead.
Simpkins was charged with a Flagrant I foul. Sinani already had 11 points and three assists in less than 13 minutes of court time.
Colby Duggan finished with 23 points for Campbell, which avenged a 13-point loss from last month and won its sixth consecutive game.
“They’ve been playing with a great sense of urgency,” Taylor said. “I didn’t think we quite met the level of urgency needed in this game. We played hard, but some of the turnovers, the non-aggressive plays that we made just killed us.”
Sam Sherry’s 12 points were tops for Elon. Nick Dorn and Simpkins both scored 11, and Matthew Van Komen pulled in 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
The Camels shot 40.6 percent from the field, but gathered 16 offensive rebounds. Elon committed 15 turnovers, with Campbell ending with a 24-4 edge in points off turnovers.
“Unacceptable by our standards,” Taylor said.
Earlier, Elon went through a scoring drought of almost seven minutes and trailed 21-11.
Without a field goal for more than 10½ minutes, the Phoenix was behind 27-14 until T.K. Simpkins scored on a drive at the 6:15 mark.
“The scoring droughts were a result of us turning it over or not getting the offensive boards which have been things that we have done pretty well,” Taylor said.
Both teams were rattled by Sinani’s injury.
“I thought we actually responded pretty well from that, which is a very difficult thing,” Taylor said.
Close call in Charleston
Elon rallied from a 10-point deficit early in the second half, but ended up with an 88-83 overtime loss to host College of Charleston on Saturday night.
The Phoenix led by one point twice in the final two minutes of regulation, including when Nick Dorn made three free throws with six seconds left. Ante Brzovic made the first and missed the second of a two-shot foul with one second to play, extending the game to overtime.
Elon, trying to avenge a setback from last month, held 74-71 and 76-75 leads in overtime before the Cougars’ 10-2 run.
Dorn had 21 points and Sherry posted 19 points.
Elon (15-10, 6-6) has a home game Thursday night against North Carolina A&T (4-20, 0-11) before Saturday’s trip to UNC Wilmington for the only scheduled meeting with the Seahawks.
Women’s basketball
Elon rallied in the final two minutes with a go-ahead 3-point basket from Raven Preston and Jayda Angel’s drive for a basket in a 45-41 road victory against Towson on Sunday afternoon. Laila Anderson scored the game’s final points with two free throws.
Iycez Adams finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Phoenix (12-9, 6-4), which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Elon goes to UNCW on Friday night before Sunday afternoon’s home game vs. Campbell.
