Elon will continue its hunt for its first win over a Division I team this season when it travels to Drexel on Thursday night for a Colonial Athletic Association opener. The Phoenix have only won two games this year, which both came against non-Division I opponents. Drexel has won two of its last three games, but it has not played since beating Delaware State on Dec. 17.
Elon continues to be one of the worst teams in Division I this season, ranked No. 343 of 363 teams in KenPom’s rankings heading into Wednesday night’s slate. The Phoenix have yet to record a win against a Division I team, losing all 11 of their contests against those opponents. They are currently riding a three-game losing streak following road losses to Presbyterian, Valparaiso and then-No. 18 Indiana. Elon barely failed to cover the 5.5-point spread in its 69-63 loss to Presbyterian, but it covered as an 8.5-point underdog against Valpo and as a 27-point underdog against the Hoosiers. The Phoenix are on a five-game road trip that concludes at Delaware on Saturday.
PREVIEW | @CAABasketball play begins for the Phoenix at Drexel on Thursday.https://t.co/2XYJUxQ4Ab
— Elon Men's Basketball (@ElonMBasketball) December 28, 2022
Their shooting numbers from the perimeter have been atrocious this year, as they are knocking down just 27% of their 3-point attempts. That does not bode well for an offense that is No. 47 in ratio of 3-point tries to overall field goal attempts. Elon is one of the most inexperienced teams in the country (No. 334), but its strength offensively has been a low turnover rate. The Phoenix are facing a Drexel defense that is No. 114 with an effective field goal percentage of 48.2. Senior guard Sean Halloran leads Elon with 13.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Max Mackinnon (11.5) and senior guard Zac Ervin (10.6) are both in double figures as well.