After starting the conference season 3-0, the men’s basketball team slipped to a 4-3 conference record. But after beating Furman University for the second time this season on Saturday, the team that was voted to finish last in the Southern Conference has hit the middle of the conference season with momentum.

After back-to-back losses to the College of Charleston and Davidson College, the Phoenix narrowly escaped a third consecutive loss against Furman, defeating the Paladins 60-58. Furman’s Tony Anderson hit a last-second three-pointer to give Furman the 61-60 victory, but the shot was determined to have been released after the buzzer sounded.

The win at Furman gives the Phoenix its fifth conference victory and a third place standing in the Northern Division.

“We are definitely still here and other teams are noticing,” senior guard Brian Waters said. “Almost all seven games I’ve had people from the other team come up to me and say, ‘I hate playing you guys; you guys play really good D; you aren’t the same team you were last year’…We’re a threat this year and people are scared to play us.”

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga was the third loss for the Phoenix. Chattanooga is undefeated in conference play and first in the Northern Division. Elon won’t be able to avenge the Chattanooga loss until March, but will get a second shot at Davidson in early February.

“It’s really tough, but we know we have to play these teams over again,” Waters said. “They showed some of our weaknesses and we’re building on that. We are looking forward to keeping our record pretty clean.”

During the next week the Phoenix will face off against Georgia Southern University and rival UNC-Greensboro. The teams are ranked second in the South and North divisions, respectively. The next three days could prove to be an opportunity for the Phoenix to make a push towards second-place in the division.

Both games will take place in the friendly confines of Alumni Gym. The Phoenix has lost only one game in six games at home.

“It’s a long season, we know that,” senior Montell Watson said. “We are one of the best teams in this conference, but we are on a skid in our away games. We are one of the best teams and we showed it tonight that we can play with one of the best teams, but we have to win on the road too.”

Sports Editor: Justin Hite - 01/16/07