Post by elonfan06 on Oct 31, 2007 10:11:39 GMT -5
By Adam Smith / Times-News
October 31, 2007 12:18 AM
ELON — Shakiness turned the corner into steady territory just in time and Elon University avoided what would have been a disappointing exhibition result for the second season in a row.
The Phoenix finally gained separation from Division II Belmont Abbey and pulled away for a 70-57 men’s basketball victory Tuesday night at Alumni Gym.
Division III Guilford College toppled Elon here in an exhibition game last season.
And this one seemed to be shaping in an eerily similar fashion, with Belmont Abbey leading at halftime and trailing by three with less than 7½ minutes remaining.
“There wasn’t ever really any scary moments,” Elon forward Ola Atoyebi said. “We knew the shots were going to start falling at the end.”
Atoyebi scored six of his 18 points on a variety of post moves during a 10-2 burst that pushed Elon ahead 63-52 with 3:13 left.
Montell Watson, back from the foot injury that cost him all of last season, pumped in 20 points to pace the Phoenix. Scott Grable and Brett James added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Atoyebi and Grable snatched a combined 26 rebounds.
“It just took a little time,” Watson said. “We had to get the kinks out and start playing our brand of ball.”
Elon came in dealing with an assortment of personnel issues. Coach Ernie Nestor said James, a guard now free of the protective boot that helped a foot injury recover, hasn’t reached his normal conditioning level.
Grable played on an injured ankle. Nestor said he had considered not using guard Brian Waters (hurt wrist), but he ended up receiving 16 minutes of action.
Forward Monty Sanders (violation of team and university rules) and guard Jon Ogolo (bulging disc in back) didn’t suit up for Elon.
“We struggled but that’s what these games are for,” Nestor said. “We haven’t played a basketball game since March. To expect us to come out and be clean, we’re just not that kind of team.”
Richard Barbee Jr. scored 24 points for Belmont Abbey, playing under first-year coach Stephen Miss, a North Carolina graduate and former Towson and Georgia assistant.
“We wanted to App State them,” Miss said, alluding to a certain football upset. “All in all it was a successful performance. It’s good to have a Division I program teach you what you need to work on.”
UNCG, DAVIDSON SELECTED AT TOP OF POLL: UNC Greensboro has been picked as the favorite to win the Southern Conference’s North Division title in men’s basketball and defending league champion Davidson has been chosen to repeat in the South Division in preseason voting.
Elon was selected to finish last in the five-team North Division behind Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Chattanooga.
For the women, Chattanooga edged out Western Carolina for the top spot in the preseason balloting. Elon checked in eighth in back of Davidson, UNCG, Georgia Southern, Appalachian State and Wofford.
Davidson sophomore Stephen Curry was picked as preseason Player of the Year for the men. On the women’s side, Chattanooga senior Alex Anderson was named preseason Player of the Year.