North Carolina

Defensive problems persist in Elon’s loss to North Carolina A&T

Published

2 weeks ago

February 22, 2026

Defensive problems persist in Elon’s loss to North Carolina A&T

From the opening possessions, it was clear that Elon University men’s basketball’s matchup against North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University would be set in the paint.

The Aggies attacked early, scoring on their first four possessions. Elon never had the chance to settle defensively, handing the Phoenix a lopsided defeat, which head coach Billy Taylor called “unacceptable” on the defensive end.

“We’ve had a lot of good moments with this team, and tonight was just not one of them,” Taylor said. “Our effort defensively was just unacceptable, attention to detail, discipline just really disappointing, and our lack of confidence in terms of the Interior, the rebounding was just unacceptable.”

Despite the defensive lapses, Elon managed to stay within striking distance early thanks to graduate student Chandler Cuthrell’s aggressive play. The forward drew multiple fouls, keeping the Phoenix alive with shots from the free-throw line.

Taylor said the Aggies’ constant pressure at the rim wreaked havoc for the Phoenix.

“It started with their ability to attack the paint,” Taylor said. “We just didn’t take enough pride individually to play the kind of physicality that we need to have. We tried different guys, different combinations, and we just couldn’t find the answer.”

A&T’s runs came in bursts. After Elon briefly grabbed the lead with a step-back 3-pointer from sophomore Bryson Cokley, the Aggies responded with a 7-0 run.

Junior Mujahiid Burton hit a 3-pointer of his own for A&T. He launched his shot a few steps from half-court, turning his back to the rim and celebrating before the ball even swished. The shot topped the Aggies’ run, foreshadowing the offensive dominance to come.

A&T entered halftime with a 53-41 lead.

Jojo Liebreich | Elon News Network

Juwan Carr charges up to the basket to get early points in the first quarter in Schar Center on Feb. 21.

Elon showed flashes of coming to life. Junior Randall Pettus III opened the second half with a flurry of 3-pointers to chip at the lead. Freshman Demarco Johnson also chipped in, sinking his 5th 3-pointer of the season.

Elon also opened the second half with graduate forward Kacper Klaczek, who missed the last seven games with an injury. Taylor said the veteran’s impact extends beyond scoring, even in a rusty return.

“It was good to have Kacper out there for some quality minutes,” Taylor said. “His mentality was a little amped up early, missed a couple shots he normally converts. But we need his physicality, his toughness, his rebounding. He does so much for our team, more than just making shots.”

Frustrations showed as Elon continued to struggle defensively. Klaczek fouled Burton as he sank an acrobatic lay-up. He then chirped at the referees afterward, giving the Aggies two more free throws in a swing that put the game out of reach for the Phoenix.

“For a fifth-year guy, it’s just an undisciplined moment,” Taylor said. “In tight games, you can’t make selfish decisions like that. You’ve got to have the discipline to walk away and move on to the next play.”

Elon trailed by double-digits for the majority of the second half. The Aggies didn’t miss a shot for the last 12 minutes of the game. The Phoenix offense turned sloppy, according to Taylor, forcing up bad shots and relying on 1-on-1 isolated possessions.

The Phoenix fell 102-82. It’s the first time Elon has let up 100 points this season, against an Aggies team that ranked 7th offensively in the CAA.

“We took this opportunity for granted tonight,” Taylor said. “We didn’t compete at a high level, and it bit us.”

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the loss comes at a critical stretch for Elon. The team now falls to a 14-14 record on the season, 6-9 in conference play. Taylor said that the focus now shifts to responding with urgency on the road.

“We’ve got to get back to our identity,” Taylor said. “We’ve got a lot in front of us. We’re still playing for seeding. We’ve got to bring a tough mentality, and go play in some tough places to win.”

Elon next plays at Towson University on Feb. 25 in Towson, Maryland.

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North Carolina

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

2 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

Kayaking on the French Broad River
Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences

WorldAtlas’s best towns in North Carolina

The full list of WorldAtlas’s favorite North Carolina towns of 2026 included:

Banner Elk
Beaufort
Blowing Rock
Brevard
Davidson
Edenton
Hot Springs
Seagrove
Manteo
Wrightsville Beach

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

Published

14 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

An North Carolina State University professor is back home Monday night after he was trapped in the Middle East as war with Iran broke out.

Rich Spontak was stuck in Qatar while traveling from Bangkok to Spain and was forced to stay in the country for about a week. Several travelers were trapped for days in the Middle East after Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several defense leaders were
killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Spontak, like many travelers, found himself stranded in the Middle East after the initial attacks, which quickly entangled more surrounding countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where seven U.S. service members were killed in retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Spontak said there were times he thought he wouldn’t make it out.

“I would just keep looking out and looking for the missiles,” Spontak said. “Some people that I met along the way were hit by shrapnel from the missles. It was dire.”

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Azerbaijan also shut the southern sector of its airspace on Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone attack that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building.

Lilia Austin, a Chapel Hill woman who was part of a group of 100 women who went to Israel for a trip the day before Khamenei was killed, also returned home on Sunday after she left Israel through Egypt.

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North Carolina

Gov. Stein proposes $1.4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Stein proposes .4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — With North Carolina still without a new state budget, Gov. Josh Stein is urging state lawmakers to approve a $1.4 billion “Critical Needs Budget.” Stein says this budget will address the state’s most urgent priorities while the General Assembly works on a full spending plan.

“North Carolina has gone nearly two and a half years without passing a new state budget – the only state in the country to finish 2025 without one[…]This budget invests in critical public safety, education and health care services for the people of North Carolina that cannot wait,” Gov. Stein said in a press release Monday.

A major part of Stein’s proposal is $319 million to fully fund Medicaid, which provides health coverage to over three million North Carolinians. This program also supports rural hospitals, nursing homes and statewide health care providers, per the release.

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The “Critical Needs Budget” would target public safety staffing and pay. According to the governor’s office, North Carolina currently ranks 49th in starting salaries for state troopers and correctional officers, and low pay has contributed to staffing shortages and vacancy rates. This budget would bring pay raises to correctional officers, law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers and more.

Stein’s proposed budget calls for raising starting and average teacher pay, as well as increasing pay for senior teachers and other education staff. The governor’s office said the state remains in the bottom 10 nationally in average teacher pay.

The budget proposal also includes pay increases for state employees and a cost-of-living adjustment for retired state employees, citing rising inflation costs and increasing health care premiums. Stein’s plan also includes targeted funding to maintain essential services, such as support for child care access and affordability.

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