GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Chandler Cuthrell scored 22 points as Elon edged North Carolina A&T 69-64 in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game Thursday night at Corbett Sports Center. The Phoenix led 33-30 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half. The Aggies were led by Mujahiid Burton’s 19 points and Zamoku Weluche-Ume’s 15 points. Elon secured the win despite shooting just 13 for 22 from the free-throw line. The Phoenix forced 13 turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and outscored the Aggies 18-4 in fastbreak points. North Carolina A&T’s Amadou Doumbia blocked four shots. Elon improved to 10-6 overall. North Carolina A&T fell to 7-8. Attendance was 908.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — In a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game defined by defensive pressure and missed opportunities, the Elon Phoenix held off a late surge from North Carolina A&T to secure a 69-64 victory on Thursday night at Corbett Sports Center. Elon, which led for the entirety of the contest, improved to 10-6 overall. North Carolina A&T fell to 7-8. The Phoenix built their lead on the strength of a disruptive defense and efficient transition offense. Elon forced 13 Aggies turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and dominated fast-break scoring 18-4. While neither team shot particularly well, Elon’s ability to generate extra possessions and easier baskets proved decisive. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final two minutes. With Elon clinging to a 62-59 lead, North Carolina A&T’s Mujahiid Burton connected on a 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining to tie the game, capping a personal 7-0 run that brought the Aggies back from a nine-point deficit. Elon responded on the ensuing possession. Guard Ja’Juan Carr found forward Chandler Cuthrell for a layup to put the Phoenix back ahead 64-62. After a stop, Elon worked the clock before Carr drove and was fouled with 18 seconds left. He made the first free throw but missed the second, keeping the Elon lead at three points. Needing a 3-pointer to tie, North Carolina A&T’s final possession disintegrated. Burton, who had been scorching in the second half, was stripped by Elon’s Kacper Klaczek near midcourt with one second remaining, sealing the victory for the Phoenix. Cuthrell, a 6-foot-8 forward from Baltimore, led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds. Randall Pettus contributed 15 points for Elon, while Carr finished with eight points, six assists and a key block. The Aggies were led by Burton, who scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half. Zamoku Weluche-Ume of London, England, added 15 points, four assists and nine rebounds. North Carolina A&T’s interior defense, anchored by Amadou Doumbia’s four blocks, kept them in the game despite a frigid 7-of-30 performance from 3-point range. Elon established control early, using an 11-0 run midway through the first half to open a 23-9 lead. The Aggies chipped away, closing the half on a 9-2 spurt to trail 33-30 at intermission. The Phoenix shot just 40% from the field for the game and 59% from the free-throw line, but offset those struggles by committing only nine turnovers and hitting timely shots whenever the Aggies threatened. North Carolina A&T had chances down the stretch but was hampered by its own offensive inefficiency, posting an offensive rating of 92.4 points per 100 possessions. Elon managed a slightly better 97.9 rating in a game where both defenses largely controlled the tempo. Elon next hosts Campbell on Saturday. North Carolina A&T travels to face William & Mary on Jan. 15.

Preview: Elon at North Carolina A&T GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to establish momentum in Colonial Athletic Association play will meet Thursday when the Elon Phoenix visit the North Carolina A&T Aggies at Corbett Sports Center. Elon (9-6) enters the contest after a narrow 85-81 home loss to College of Charleston on Dec. 31. The Phoenix had won four of their previous five games, including a 103-91 victory over Northeastern and a tight 73-70 win against Richmond. Their nonconference schedule featured a near-upset, falling 82-81 in overtime at Virginia Tech. The Phoenix are led by guard Bryson Cokley, who is coming off a season-high 23-point performance in the loss to Charleston. Over his last seven games, Cokley is averaging 11.1 points. North Carolina A&T (7-7) is also seeking consistency after a heartbreaking 81-80 road loss at Stony Brook on Jan. 3. The Aggies have dropped three straight games, including conference defeats to Northeastern and UNC Wilmington in late December. They previously showed promise with a 71-65 road win at UNC Greensboro. A key player for the Aggies is forward KJ Debrick, who recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss at Stony Brook. Debrick has been a force defensively and on the glass, posting a 12-rebound, 4-block performance in a win over Mid-Atlantic Christian on Dec. 20. Historically, the Aggies hold a 5-2 series advantage since both teams joined the CAA. They split last season’s matchups, with each team winning on its home court. The game will be a contrast in styles. Elon averages 83.1 points per game and has scored 97 or more points three times this season. North Carolina A&T averages 74.6 points and will rely on its interior defense, led by Debrick, to slow the Phoenix attack. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. Elon hosts Campbell on Saturday, while North Carolina A&T travels to face William & Mary on Jan. 15.