By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
All it took for Elon was finally taking the lead – a riveting victory against Campbell came with it.
Randall Pettus II scored on an adventurous drive into the lane with 1:37 remaining as the Phoenix went ahead for the first time Saturday night, holding on for an 83-82 result in Coastal Athletic Association men’s basketball at Schar Center.
“It seemed like we could never get over the hump,” Elon coach Billy Taylor said. “But we were able to finish the game strong.”
Kacper Klaczek and Chandler Cuthrell each scored 20 points and Pettus and Ja’Juan Carr poured in 17 points apiece for the Phoenix (11-6, 3-1 CAA). That quartet combined to shoot 31-for-49 (63.3 percent) from the field.
After Pettus gave Elon the lead, the teams exchanged turnovers. The Phoenix nearly clinched it, but Ned Hull’s 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down missed. The Camels advanced the ball to the frontcourt and called time-out with 4.7 seconds left.
With a large portion of the crowd of 1,743 standing, Campbell didn’t get a good look on the last possession, with Tasos Cook’s off-balance launch from the 3-point line well off the mark at the buzzer.
“We also felt that atmosphere out there for the game,” Taylor said. “We had a great crowd tonight, tremendous energy. Down the stretch in a close ball game, that can really propel you.”
The Phoenix posted the game’s final 10 points. Campbell didn’t (9-9, 3-2) score in the final four minutes.
“It’s always going to come down to that: Can you get the key stop?” Taylor said.
Pettus made it matter with the game’s final basket.
“Just being aggressive and confident,” Pettus said the drive. “You got to be confident.”
DJ Smith scored 19 of his 32 points in the first half for the Camels, hitting seven total 3-pointers.
The Camels scored twice off offensive rebounds in a 79-second span down the stretch to maintain control. But Cuthrell’s move along the baseline resulted in a four-point possession as he converted on the shot, missed an ensuing free throw and the Phoenix retained possession when the ball went out of bounds. Then Klaczek powered into the lane for a basket before Cuthrell took a Campbell turnover the length of the court for a dunk, closing the gap to 82-81 with 2:24 left.
“From our experience this season, we know games are going to be ups and downs,” Carr said. “The main thing is to keep fighting, keep playing tough, keep playing aggressive because that’s what’s going to get us back in the game.”
Campbell raced out to an 18-7 lead less than six minutes into the game and later led by 12. Elon closed within 28-25 late in the first half and trailed 43-37 at the break.
“You just have to continue to stay in it,” Taylor said. “You can’t lose your composure when things don’t go your way. … It shows you what you can become. What we learn is that we’re always in the fight. I love the way we were able to execute down the stretch.”
Elon used 10 players, while the Camels had only six players make it into the game.
The outcome in the only scheduled meeting this season between the teams ended Campbell’s season-best three-game winning streak under first-year coach John Andrzejek, who was an assistant coach for 2025 national champion Florida before becoming the third-youngest Division I head coach this season at age 33.
Elon has road games at Northeastern and Hofstra before a January 22 home game vs. William & Mary.
Phoenix tops Aggies
Elon never trailed in a 69-64 victory against North Carolina A&T last Thursday night in Greensboro.
Cuthrell poured in 15 of his 22 points in the second half. Pettus posted 15 points and Bryson Cokley had 10 points, though it marked Elon’s lowest-scoring game of the season.
The Aggies pulled even at 43-43 before Hull’s 3-pointer ignited a 10-1 spurt. It marked the third consecutive visit to Corbett Sports Center that ended in an Elon victory.
Elon women fall
Campbell used a late 12-3 spurt to take the lead and then closed the game with the final six points for a 62-52 CAA victory Friday night in Buies Creek.
LaNaé Corbett racked up 17 points and freshman Ashanti Fox had a season-best 14 points and a team-high four assists for the Phoenix (6-9, 1-2), which was playing its only game during an 11-day stretch.
