College of Charleston opens SoCon play on the road against Elon
College of Charleston coach Doug Wojcik will get his first taste of Southern Conference basketball tonight when the Cougars take on Elon.
College of Charleston vs. Elon
College of Charleston at Elon
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alumni Gym, Elon, N.C.
RADIO: WTMZ 910-AM
RECORDS: CofC 4-2, Elon 5-2.
NOTES: The College of Charleston leads the overall series with Elon, 11-5. The Cougars have won five of the last six games between the two schools. Elon defeated the Cougars, 99-98, in double overtime last year in Elon. Guard Jack Isenbarger (14.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and forward Lucas Troutman (14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) lead the Elon offense. Troutman was named the SoCon player of the week on Tuesday.
The Cougars face the Phoenix today at 7 p.m. at Alumni Gym on the campus of the North Carolina school.
The Cougars are winners of their last three games, including back-to-back road wins at then-No. 24 Baylor (63-59) last weekend and against crosstown rival Charleston Southern (72-67) on Wednesday night.
“We’re playing pretty good basketball right now and that’s important going into conference play,” Wojcik said.
Elon has won five of its last six games, including a 12-point road victory at South Carolina (65-53). The Phoenix are fresh off a league-opening, 55-50, road win at Georgia Southern.
“They beat South Carolina at South Carolina, so they have a lot of confidence, and won their first league game on the road at Georgia Southern.” Wojcik said. “They are playing very well right now.”
The Phoenix are led in scoring and rebounding by junior forward Lucas Troutman, who is averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds a game. Troutman also averages 2.7 blocks a game, which is ranked in the top 20 nationally. Guard Jack Isenbarger is averaging 14.4 points and 2.6 assists a game.
“They have a great junior class with four really good players in it, including Isenbarger and Troutman,” Wojcik said. “They really shoot it well and run a five-man motion. You really have to guard them for the entire shot clock.”
The Cougars and Phoenix were involved in one of the most thrilling SoCon games a year ago, when Elon beat the Cougars, 99-98, in double overtime.
“The first game in SoCon play is very important to set the tone for the rest of the season,” said Cougars guard Anthony Stitt. “I didn’t play at Elon last year because I was hurt, but know it will be a tough environment on the road. We lost in double overtime there last year, so we just have to go out and play our own game and play defense.”
The Cougars and Phoenix are two of the top 3-point shooting teams in the SoCon. The Cougars lead the league, connecting on 41.2 percent of their shots from 3-point range, while Elon is shooting at a 37.6 percent clip.
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