By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon failed to score at the end of regulation and with the last possession of overtime in an 82-81 men’s basketball loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Virginia Tech’s Christian Gurdak scored the go-ahead lay-in at the 10-seocnd mark before an Elon turnover, two missed free throws by the Hokies and Bryson Cokely missing on a desperation shot, marking the end to a three-game winning streak for the Phoenix.
It was a back-and-forth overtime session, with freshman guard DeMarco Johnson’s basket with 25 seconds remaining giving Elon the lead.
Chandler Cuthrell had 18 points, Isaac Harrell notched 16 points, and Kacper Klaczek had 11 points for the Phoenix, which led 35-16 on the way to holding a 43-35 halftime edge. Klaczek missed a jumper on the final shot of regulation.
Amarni Hansberry led the Hokies (11-2), who never led by more than three points, with 20 points.
Elon, which has a home date Monday vs. Division III Greensboro College, opens Coastal Athletic Association play after Christmas with two home games at Schar Center.
Northeastern visits the night of December 29 and College of Charleston is the foe at 2:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Northeastern’s LA Pratt, a transfer from Elon, is out for the season with a broken foot suffered last month, while Northeastern’s Xander Alarie is son of former Duke standout Mark Alarie.
