ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — Elon outlasted Northern Illinois 85-79 in a fast-paced men’s basketball game Saturday at Schar Center. The Phoenix improved to 6-4 overall, while the Huskies fell to 3-7. Elon, a pregame favorite, overcame a seven-point halftime deficit by outscoring Northern Illinois 44-31 after intermission. The Phoenix secured the win despite making only 3 of 19 three-point attempts, compensating with a 29-for-56 effort from the floor overall and 24 made free throws. Kacper Klaczek led all scorers with 23 points for Elon. Makhai Valentine posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies, who shot 11 for 30 from beyond the arc but committed 12 turnovers. Attendance was 1,092.

ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by contrasting styles and a relentless second-half push, the Elon Phoenix outlasted the Northern Illinois Huskies 85-79 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Schar Center. The Phoenix, improving to 6-4, overcame a seven-point halftime deficit by dominating the paint and the fast break, ultimately wearing down a Huskies team that relied heavily on perimeter shooting. Northern Illinois fell to 3-7 despite a strong start and a double-double from guard Makhai Valentine. The most important part of the game was Elon’s decisive response to Northern Illinois’s hot start. The Huskies, fueled by efficient three-point shooting, built a 48-41 lead by halftime. They connected on 7 of 15 from beyond the arc in the first period, with early contributions from Gustav Winther and Daemar Kelly helping establish the advantage. Elon, meanwhile, struggled from deep, missing 12 of its 14 first-half three-point attempts. The complexion of the game changed dramatically after the break. Elon abandoned its unsuccessful long-range attack and aggressively attacked the basket. The Phoenix scored 32 fast-break points, often capitalizing on Northern Illinois’s 12 turnovers, and outscored the Huskies 48-26 in the paint for the game. This interior dominance allowed Elon to shoot 51.8% from the floor overall despite making only 3 of 19 three-pointers. A key sequence early in the second half illustrated the shift. Trailing 50-44, Elon unleashed a 13-2 run over a three-minute span. The surge was powered entirely by drives and finishes in the lane, with Chandler Cuthrell and Kacper Klaczek combining for 11 points during the burst. The run gave Elon a 57-52 lead, its first since the opening minutes, and the Phoenix never trailed again. Northern Illinois continued to fight, closing to within 71-70 with just over six minutes remaining after a pair of free throws from Gustav Winther. But Elon answered with a critical 7-0 run, capped by a Randall Pettus layup and free throw, to extend the lead to 78-70 with 5:10 to play. The Huskies could not mount another sustained threat, as their shooting cooled to 4 of 15 from three-point range in the second half. Klaczek, a 6-foot-8 forward from Chorzow, Poland, led all scorers with 23 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. He was instrumental in the second-half comeback, scoring 15 points after intermission, primarily on post moves and cuts to the basket. Cuthrell, a 6-8 forward from Baltimore, complemented him with 21 points and six rebounds. Pettus added 13 points, including several key baskets during Elon’s closing push. For Northern Illinois, Valentine, a 6-3 guard from Munhall, Pennsylvania, posted 17 points and 10 rebounds. Winther, a 6-10 forward from Roskilde, Denmark, tallied 15 points and nine rebounds. Guard Jao Ituka provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, all in the first half, but was limited in the second period. Elon’s efficiency proved decisive. The Phoenix scored 85 points on 71 possessions for an offensive rating of 120.3, while Northern Illinois posted a 110.0 rating (79 points on 72 possessions). Elon also attempted 33 free throws, making 24, compared to 27 attempts for the Huskies. The announced attendance was 1,092. Elon next hosts Richmond on Wednesday. Northern Illinois returns home to face East-West University on Tuesday. The game’s total score of 164 points went over the pregame over/under line of 156. Elon entered as an 11-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the victory improved its record against the spread. National Statistical’s ELO system had given the Phoenix a 90.2% probability to win.

Preview: Northern Illinois Huskies at Elon Phoenix ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — The Elon Phoenix will look to build on a decisive road win and continue its strong start at home when it hosts the struggling Northern Illinois Huskies in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Schar Center. Elon (5-4) is 4-0 at home this season and is coming off a 73-52 victory at Wofford on Dec. 6. The Phoenix have been led by the high-scoring performances of junior guard Chandler Cuthrell, who is averaging 22.6 points over his last five games. He scored 21 points in the win over Wofford and had a season-high 29 points in a Nov. 15 victory over Gardner-Webb. Northern Illinois (3-6) seeks to halt a four-game losing streak, most recently an 84-55 defeat at Bradley on Dec. 6. The Huskies have struggled offensively during the skid, failing to reach 65 points in three of those losses. Guard Dylan Ducommun, who scored a team-high 17 points against Bradley, will be a key. He had a season-high 24 points and six assists in a Nov. 21 win at Loyola Chicago, demonstrating his capability as an offensive catalyst. The Huskies’ defense will face a significant test against an Elon team averaging 86.2 points per game at home. Beyond Cuthrell, Elon has received consistent contributions from forward Kacper Klaczek, who had 11 points, five assists and two blocks against Wofford. For Northern Illinois, finding supplementary scoring behind Ducommun is critical. Guards Gianni Cobb and Makhai Valentine, who combined for 21 points against Bradley, will need to provide offensive support. This game marks the first meeting between the programs. Following this contest, Elon hosts Richmond on Dec. 17, while Northern Illinois returns home to face East-West University on Dec. 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Saturday at Schar Center (4,100 capacity) on the campus of Elon University.