BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University men's basketball looks to keep its momentum rolling when it plays host to Southern Conference rival Elon on Saturday at the Holmes Center.
The Mountaineers (5-8, 1-1 SoCon) enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak after downing Wofford on Tuesday to pick up their first conference win of the season while the Phoenix (8-6, 1-1) look to keep pace with the rest of the North Division.
SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
• Elon enters Saturday’s showdown following a loss to Princeton on Jan. 5. The Phoenix is 2-3 in its last five games, but did pick up a 70-69 win over Columbia in its last road contest.
• The Phoenix sit at 1-1 in the SoCon this season and are tied with three other squads who each hold a 1-1 record in the conference.
• Saturday’s contest could mark a high-scoring affair as both Appalachian State (3rd - 70.8 ppg) and Elon (5th - 69.1 ppg) are two of the top scoring teams in the SoCon.
• Elon is one of just three SoCon teams (College of Charleston and Davidson are the others) with a winning record this season.
• The Phoenix have proven to be one of the better defensive units in the league as it ranks fourth in scoring defense (64.3 ppg)
• Opponents inability to score on Elon can be attributed to a league-best .401 opponent field-goal percentage for the Phoenix this season.
• The squad ranks second in the league in blocked shots (4.1 bpg) and fourth in steals (7.6 spg).
• The Phoenix is led offensively by the dynamic duo of Lucas Troutman (14.9 ppg) and Jack Isenbarger (14.6 ppg) who each rank in the top-10 in the SoCon in scoring.
• Elon also features one of the league’s top outside threats in Sebastian Koch, who is shooting an impressive 44.6 percent (29-of-65) from long range.
• The Phoenix have also had consistency on its side as four players on the roster have started every game this season and Austin Hamilton has started 13-of-14.
SERIES HISTORY
• Appalachian State is 51-42 all-time against Elon and has won eight of the last 10 meetings in the series.
• The two squads split the season series a year ago as each successfully defended its home floor in a blowout.
• Appalachian cruised to an 81-66 win over the Phoenix at home last season as Omar Carter and Jamaal Trice combined for 40 points in the contest.
• Elon grabbed an 82-59 win when the teams last met on Feb. 6, 2012 in Elon.
• The Phoenix jumped on top early and never trailed, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half to pick up the win.
• Appalachian’s loss to Elon in the last meeting snapped a seven-game winning streak the Phoenix, which marked the second-longest winning streak for either team in the series.
• Elon began the all-time series with six-straight wins over the Apps, but the Mountaineers have posted several long winning streaks, including a series-high eight in a row (1947-48 to ‘50-’51) to take control of the series.
• The Mountaineers have not lost a home game against Elon since suffering a 64-63 loss on Jan. 13, 2007.
GLANCING AHEAD
• The Mountaineers will face UNCG at home on Monday before hitting the road to take on Chattanooga (Jan. 17) and Samford (Jan. 19).
• The Apps return home to face Georgia Southern (Jan. 24) and Davidson (Jan. 26) before closing out the month at College of Charleston (Jan. 30).
