By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Nick Dorn opened the game with an offensive flurry for Elon’s basketball team Monday night.
He had plenty of company the rest of the way as the Phoenix beat visiting Campbell 81-68 at Schar Center.
“To win by double digits in league play, you got to be happy with that performance,” Elon coach Billy Taylor said.
Sam Sherry’s 23 points and 10 rebounds and Dorn’s 22 points sparked Elon (12-5 overall, 3-1 Coastal Athletic Association), which shot 50.9 percent from the field.
“We’re showing people who we really are,” Sherry said. “We’re a tough team and we can compete with anybody and win against anybody.”
It marked Elon’s second-highest point total against a Division I opponent this season, behind only a triumph at Notre Dame.
“Guys were finding me in the right spots and Nick was shooting the ball like he always does,” Sherry said. “Guys were doing the dirty work. (Brayden) Crump did a great job off the bench.”
T.J. Simpkins’ 12 points and six assists and Crump’s 11 points were critical as well. Matthew Van Komen pulled in 10 rebounds.
There was a boost from having T.K. Simpkins, who had been a starting guard, back after missing the past five games with an injury. A team leader in several categories last season, he logged almost 15 minutes off the bench and supplied four points and four assists despite going 0-for-6 on 3-point shooting.
“He was on a minute restriction a little bit because he was working his way back,” Taylor said. “But we were really able to weather quite a bit without him (in recent weeks) and we’re excited to have him out on the floor.”
The Phoenix had others capable of scoring at efficient rates.
Sherry shot 8-for-9 from the field, making all three of his launches from beyond the arc. Dorn drained five 3s, reaching that level for the sixth time this season.
Campbell closed to within 56-50 before another Elon burst. The Simpkins brothers accounted for the next six points for the Phoenix before Dorn’s final 3-pointer.
“I don’t think they ever told me not to shoot a ball,” Dorn said.
Colby Duggan racked up 29 points – scoring his team’s last basket of the opening half and first 14 points of the second half – for Campbell (7-10, 2-2). The Camels had allowed more than 70 points in only five previous games this season.
Elon took better care of the ball in the second half, with only three of its 11 turnovers coming after the break.
Dorn hit for nine points in the game’s first two minutes. Elon drained its first five shots and was up 16-7. The Camels made a run before the Phoenix built a 34-21 bulge.
“It did feel like it was going to go in every time I let it go,” Dorn said.
The Phoenix shot 59 percent and led 42-34 at the half.
Elon, which is within one victory of last season’s total, goes on the road for games Thursday night at Drexel and Saturday afternoon at Delaware before a four-game homestand beginning January 23.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Taylor said. “But obviously we’re off to a good start.”
• Elon’s unbeaten string in CAA play ended with last Thursday’s 78-65 loss at William & Mary, which entered this week atop the league standings. Sherry finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Phoenix led 31-30 at halftime in Williamsburg, Virginia. Elon shot 1-for-13 on second-half 3s.
