ELON, N.C. (Nov. 9, 2023) – Trailing by 22 points with just over 10 minutes remaining, the ETSU men's basketball team flipped a switch and made a final run at the Phoenix. 
 
The Bucs clipped the deficit to two in the closing seconds, but ETSU couldn't dig itself out of the deep hole as Elon held on for a 79-76 win on Thursday night inside Schar Center. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
Both teams' stats were nearly identical as Elon was plus-1 in field goals made (30 to 29), both teams netted nine three-pointers and the Phoenix were plus-1 in made free throws (10 to 9). 
 
The Bucs shot 43 percent from the field and went 82 percent at the charity stripe, compared to Elon hitting at a 51 percent clip from the floor and 47 percent from beyond the arc. 
  
Elon was plus-2 in the paint, 42-40, while the Bucs were plus-2 in points off turnovers (18-16) and plus-9 in transition scoring (19-10). 
 
The Phoenix got 36 points from their bench, whereas, ETSU finished with four bench points – Maki Johnson scoring all four. 
 
With the setback, ETSU moved to 1-1, while Elon improved to 1-1. 
 
TOP PERFORMERS 
Quimari Peterson led all scorers with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting. The transfer from John A. Logan College also grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists and tallied two steals. 
 
Jaden Seymour poured in a career-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Karon Boyd finished with nine points and eight rebounds. 
 
Elon had three players score in double figures with reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Max Mackinnon leading the way with 17 points and seven rebounds. 
 
GAME SUMMARY
The Bucs controlled the tempo early in the first half but then things shifted over the final seven minutes and Elon took a 39-28 lead into halftime. 
 
ETSU scored 12 of the first 14 points and led 23-17 following a pair of free throws by Seymour at the 8:58 mark. However, things went cold for the Blue & Gold and Elon went on its run. 
 
The Phoenix outscored the Bucs 22-5 over that final stretch – including netting the final 14 points – and Elon took the 11-point advantage into the locker room. 
 
Elon carried momentum into the second half as they pushed its lead to 22, 60-38, when Kendall Campbell made one of two free throws with 10:12 remaining. 
 
Facing a large hurdle, the Blue & Gold could've crumbled; however, they showed their toughness and rallied. 
 
ETSU chipped away at its deficit and clipped it to single digits with just over six minutes left as a lay-up by Peterson made it, 64-55. 
 
Elon answered and pushed the lead back to 13, but the Bucs never backed down. 
 
In the final four minutes, ETSU got key contributions from several players with Peterson coming up clutch with back-to-back three-pointers to make it a 74-71 game with 29 ticks showing on the clock. 
 
Peterson's third and final three pulled the Blue & Gold within two, 78-76, with nine seconds remaining. Following controversial non-calls – five seconds on an inbounds play and traveling in the corner – the Bucs were forced to foul and sent Tk Simpkins to the free throw line. Simpkins missed the first and made the second, making it a three-point game with two seconds left. The Bucs heaved the ball to halfcourt but couldn't handle the inbounds pass and Elon survived as time ran out. 
 
UP NEXT 
ETSU heads up to Indianapolis to take on BIG EAST foe Buter on Monday night at 7 p.m. inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. 
 
PURCHASE TICKETS 
Fans can a Rivalry Pack by calling the ETSU Ticket Office at 423-439-3878 or visiting ETSUTickets.com. The Rivalry Pack guarantees tickets to the Davidson (Nov. 17), Chattanooga (Jan. 21) and Furman (Feb. 10) games. 
  
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's basketball tab.