Elon Phoenix Prepare for In-State CAA Battles with North Carolina A&T and Campbell
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Elon University men’s basketball (9-6, 1-1 CAA) returns to Coastal Athletic Association play this week after an eight-day break, facing a challenging pair of in-state opponents. The Phoenix will travel to Greensboro to face North Carolina A&T on Thursday before hosting Campbell at the Schar Center on Saturday, with both games scheduled for 7 p.m. ET tipoffs. Saturday’s home contest against the Fighting Camels will be a landmark event, marking the first time an Elon basketball game will be broadcast on local television via WRAL-TV, in addition to streaming on FloCollege. Viewers can also access the game through Spectrum (Channel 1255), DIRECTV (Channel 80), DISH Network (Channel 253), or over-the-air antenna on Channel 5.2.
Facing the Aggies in Greensboro
Elon trails in the all-time series against North Carolina A&T, 7-10, but has found recent success on the road against the Aggies. N.C. A&T (7-7, 0-3) has struggled to begin conference play, dropping three consecutive games against UNCW, Northeastern, and a narrow 81-80 loss at Stony Brook last Saturday. The Phoenix and Aggies have a history of 17 matchups, including seven as conference rivals since the 2022-23 season. Elon has secured victories in its last two road games against N.C. A&T, most recently winning 75-67 on January 2, 2025.
Welcoming Campbell to the Schar Center
The Phoenix holds a commanding 25-16 lead in the series against Campbell, though recent contests have been more competitive. Campbell (8-8, 2-1) began CAA play with a loss to Hofstra but has since rebounded with wins at Monmouth and Northeastern. The Fighting Camels will first visit Hampton in Buies Creek on Thursday before heading to Elon. While Elon boasts a nine-game overall advantage, they have only won once in four matchups against Campbell since the Fighting Camels joined the CAA in the 2023-24 season, an 81-68 victory on January 13, 2025. Despite a 1-8 record in true road games this season, Campbell’s losses have come against formidable opponents including Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Penn State, Gonzaga, and Minnesota.
Five Things to Know About the Elon Phoenix
1. Something To Prove: Despite being picked 12th out of 13 teams in the CAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Elon entered conference play with significant momentum. The Phoenix split its opening week of league action, defeating Northeastern 103-91 and falling to College of Charleston 85-81. Elon is one of six CAA teams with at least eight nonconference wins, closing that stretch with a 4-1 record, and aims to achieve its first winning conference record since the 2016-17 season.
2. Well-Oiled Machine: Elon’s offense has been a force this season, ranking 41st nationally and leading the CAA with an average of 86.7 points per game – the highest average in the program’s 26 Division I seasons dating back to 1999. The team has surpassed 90 points five times, including a 103-point outburst against Northeastern on December 29. The Phoenix excels in both inside and outside shooting, boasting a 58.1% shooting percentage on 2-point field goals, averaging 39.2 points in the paint, and leading the CAA with 9.8 made 3-pointers per game at a 35.1% clip.
3. Leading Role: Graduate forward Chandler Cuthrell has emerged as a national scoring threat, averaging 21.3 points per game (12th nationally) in his first and only season with Elon. After arriving with a career average of 6.1 points, Cuthrell has recorded 11 20-point performances in 15 games, shooting 59.6% on 2-point field goals and 52.6% overall – second best in the CAA. He also leads the league with 114 free throw attempts, converting at a 70.2% rate (80 of 114). Cuthrell is a candidate for the Lou Henson Award, recognizing the nation’s top mid-major player, and is one of only four Division I players averaging at least 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, alongside Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, and Northeastern’s Nick Martinelli.
4. Swiss Polish-Army Knife: Graduate forward Kacper Klaczek is a versatile player who showcased his all-around ability with a career-high 28 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in Elon’s 103-91 win over Northeastern. He is one of only four Division I players to achieve that stat line or better in a single game this season. Klaczek was a key contributor during Elon’s 5-1 stretch between December 6-29, averaging 17.2 points per game while shooting 74% from the field. Currently, he averages 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.0 steal per contest.
5. The Vet & The Rook: Elon’s point guard rotation features the experience of graduate Ja’Juan Carr and the potential of freshman DeMarco Johnson. Carr, a former UNCW Seahawk and UNC Pembroke standout, leads the CAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.18) with 16 assists and only two turnovers in the first two conference games. Johnson, a native of Long Beach, California, is averaging 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 17.7 minutes off the bench, with three games of six or more assists, including a strong performance at Virginia Tech, and has added 13 steals and five blocks.
Looking ahead, Elon will embark on a two-game road trip, facing Northeastern on January 15 and Hofstra on January 17. Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club and purchase tickets for the 2025-26 season at TicketMaster.com/ElonTickets. For the latest updates on Elon men’s basketball, follow the team on X (@ElonMBasketball) and Instagram (@ElonMBasketball).
