Southern Conference Rundown: SoCon Power Rankings, Elon Season Update

As a contributor for MocsMania, a Southern Conference basketball blog, I am asked to provide power rankings on a weekly basis as part of a series entitled "Scanning the SoCon." I am also tasked with selecting the player of the week and the upcoming game of the week in the Southern Conference for this series. On some weeks, I am also assigned questions that range from a wide variety of Southern Conference related topics. To read this week's Scanning the SoCon, which includes other SoCon writers' opinions on power rankings, player of the week, various SoCon questions, etc., hop HERE. The post below will include my personal power rankings for the SoCon and a season update for Elon's basketball squad.  

SoCon Power Rankings

1.       Davidson (14-11, 10-1)

2.       Chattanooga (15-11, 9-2)

3.       Elon (14-11, 7-3)

4.       Wofford (13-10, 8-3)

5.       Western Carolina (13-11, 6-3)

6.       Samford (11-15, 5-6)

7.       Georgia Southern (11-14, 4-6)

8.       UNC Greensboro (11-14, 4-6)

9.       Appalachian State (7-16, 3-7)

10.     Furman (7-16, 1-9)

11.     Citadel (4-22, 0-11)

Current State of the Elon Phoenix

Elon (14-11, 7-3) extended its winning-streak to four with home victories over UNC Greensboro and Georgia Southern this weekend. Senior forward Ryley Beaumont paced the Phoenix with 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block in Elon’s 72-66 win over UNC Greensboro on Thursday night. Beaumont became the fourth member of the current Phoenix squad to score over 1,000 career points, joining teammates Jack Isenbarger, Lucas Troutman and Sebastian Koch in eclipsing the century mark in scoring for Elon. Elon is now one of just two NCAA Division I basketball programs to feature four current players with over 1,000 points scored.

Elon seemed to be in complete control of this contest after entering the intermission with a ten point lead, surrendering just 25 first-half points to the visiting Spartans. However, Elon entered a lengthy cold streak from the floor, scoring just nine points in the first nine minutes of the second half. As a result, the Spartans were able to storm back to take the lead, using an 11-1 run to capture a 44-41 lead with under 11 minutes remaining. However, Elon came right back with a 9-0 run of their own to regain a lead they ultimately never relinquished. Elon won the game in spite of its dreadful shooting from outside, connecting on just two of 20 three-point attempts. The Phoenix has now defeated the Spartans nine consecutive times.

Elon seized its most thrilling victory over the season over Georgia Southern on Saturday night. The Phoenix defeated the Eagles, 60-59, as senior guard Jack Isenbarger hit a game-winning three pointer with .2 remaining in regulation. Beaumont led the Phoenix in points (14), rebounds (13) and steals (2), but Isenbarger stole the show with his clutch three-pointer from well behind the arc. With the win, Elon remained undefeated at home in Southern Conference play.