Elon defeats N Illinois 85-79

N Illinois Outduels Elon in Thrilling 85-79 Victory at Schar Center

The 2025-12-13 matchup between No. 16 N Illinois (away) and unranked Elon (home) was a back-and-forth non-conference affair that saw the home crowd witness an incredible comeback by the Phoenix.

Trailing by seven points, 41-48, at halftime, Elon turned to their star player Kacper Klaczek to lead the charge. The sophomore sensation delivered, scoring 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second half as the home team erased the deficit and took a four-point lead with just over five minutes remaining.

Klaczek's all-around performance was instrumental in Elon's comeback. Alongside six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, he shot an impressive 81.8% from the field, including one of two from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, N Illinois struggled to contain Elon's offense, particularly in the paint. The Phoenix outscored their visitors by a 48-26 margin in the Paint, showcasing their dominance on the interior. However, they were unable to replicate this success outside, shooting just 37% from three-point range (11/30) compared to Elon's 16%.

The Fighting Illini's scoring came largely through Makhai Valentine, who poured in 17 points but struggled with his beyond-the-arc shot, going 3-for-10. Daemar Kelly was the team's only other double-digit scorer with eight points.

Despite being outrebounded by a margin of three, N Illinois still managed to secure an impressive 79 points on the road. However, ultimately fell short as Elon capitalized on their advantage in the paint and rebounding, taking home the win 85-79.

The game's largest lead was held by Elon at six points (73-67) with just over two minutes remaining before N Illinois mounted a final comeback to keep it close.