By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon opened the men’s basketball season with strings of impressive perimeter shooting and efficient stretches of offense in a 99-51 romp past Belmont Abbey on Wednesday night at Schar Center.
Chandler Cuthrell poured in 21 points, Ja’Juan Carr racked up 15 points, and Randall Pettus II, Kacper Klaczek and reserve Bryson Cokley all notched 12 points while DeMarco Johnson came off the bench for 11 points. All of those players were making their Elon debuts.
“Really starting fast, playing with a great sense of urgency,” coach Billy Taylor said.
It was the second season-opening victory in Taylor’s four seasons, both coming against Division II opponents.
Cokley’s drive for a basket gave the Phoenix a 21-11 edge. Six of Elon’s first nine baskets were 3-pointers, with Pettus draining three of those (and finishing with four 3s).
“Opening night can be difficult,” Taylor said. “You see a lot of scores across NCAA, you see some close games that maybe you don’t expect to be close or you see some upsets. I thought our guys really came out and set the tone.”
By the time it was 51-21, five players accounted for the 10 baskets from 3-point range. Ned Hull joined the 3-point group in the 90 seconds of the half, which ended with the Phoenix up 64-24. Cuthrell’s two 3s came in the second half.
Carr scored 13 points in the first half, while Cokley and Pettus each had 12 by the break.
Elon scored only eight points in the final 6:57.
Coming up …
Elon travels to UNC Greensboro for a 4:00 p.m. game Saturday at Fleming Gym, which is the Spartans’ on-campus venue.
Without going to the nearby coliseum that has served as UNCG’s main home court for recent years, it will provide a flashback for some members of the Phoenix.
Taylor was a former UNCG assistant coach when Fleming Gym was the team’s only home court, while first-year Elon assistant coach Courtney Eldridge is one of UNCG’s all-time greats as a player. Eldridge’s No. 23 jersey is retired, hanging in the gym.
“It will be pretty special for us,” Taylor said.
Plus, Elon forward Chandler Cuthrell’s father, Eric Cuthrell, played at UNCG and is in the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
UNCG lost 93-64 at Kansas State in its opener Tuesday night despite leading 34-33 at halftime.
Next Wednesday, Elon goes to Marshall, which will be in its home opener. That will mark a reunion with 7-foot-4 center Matthew Van Komen, who transferred to Marshall after one season with the Phoenix. Van Komen shot 4-for-4 from the field in the Thundering Herd’s 78-72 victory Monday night at Massachusetts.
