Elon defeats The Citadel 79-72 to end 5-game skid
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Drew Spradlin scored 22 points and Elon held on to beat The Citadel 79-72 on Saturday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.
The Phoenix (11-15, 5-10 Southern Conference) had a 27-point lead, at 55-28, with 12:23 to play and still maintained a 22-point cushion with 6:54 left.
The Bulldogs then outscored Elon 30-14 to get to 73-67 with 55 seconds to go.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Spradlin made four free throws in a row, then Cameron Wells, who led the Citadel with 24 points, quickly hit a jumper to make it 77-69 with 25 seconds to go.
Bo Holston followed with a free throw with 18 seconds left, but the Bulldogs could get no closer.
The Citadel (9-17, 5-9), which has lost four straight, shot 25.8 percent in the first half from the field (8 of 31) and 61.3 percent in the second (19 of 31).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chris Long added 18 points for the Phoenix, who hit 21 of 24 second-half free throws.