GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- The Green Bay men's basketball team will play its second and final exhibition game of the preseason on Sunday afternoon at the Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, traveling to face Big Ten member and 15th-ranked Minnesota for an exhibition game benefiting Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico. 

CATCH THE ACTION: Sunday, November 5 - 12 noon CT // Minneapolis, Minn. (Maturi Pavilion)

Matchup: Green Bay Phoenix (2016-17: 18-14, 12-6 HL) at #15/15 Minnesota Golden Gophers (2016-17: 24-10, 11-7 B10)

Game Promotions: All proceeds from the game will benefit Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico

Giveaway: N/A

Where to Follow Stats: GameTracker

Where to Watch: BTN2GO ($)

Where to Listen: WNFL 101.9 FM, 1440 AM

For Live in-game updates, follow: @gbphoenixmbb on Twitter and gbphoenixmbb on Instagram

HURRICANE RELIEF
The exhibition matchup between the Phoenix and the Gophers will be played for a great cause, with all proceeds benefiting Hurricane Relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Both Green Bay and Minnesota have played in Puerto Rico in the past two years, with the Phoenix paying a visit for its overseas trip in August. GB went 4-0 in the four games there and really enjoyed its time both on and off the floor. Kudos to both Minnesota and Green Bay for getting this game scheduled and raising money for a great cause and great people. 

RECAPPING RIPON
Six players scored in double figures on Monday night, as Green Bay rolled to a 100-70 victory at the Resch Center in the team's first exhibition game of the season. The Phoenix scored an even 50 points in each half, while Khalil Small, Kameron Hankerson and PJ Pipes each scored 15 points in their first live game action of the season. Hankerson also dished out eight assists, with fellow backcourt mate Small finishing with five assists. 

Green Bay enjoyed a nice 26-14 assist to turnover ratio on the night and shot 14-for-27 from the 3-point line in the winning effort. Three other players reached double figures, with Sukhjot Bains, TJ Parham and Hunter Cristscoring 10 points. Manny Patterson grabbed eight rebounds and David Jesperson and Will Chevalier combined for another 17 points.

GREEN BAY BASKETBALL IS BACK
The 49^th season of Green Bay Phoenix basketball will take place in 2017-18, the third season under the direction of head coach Linc Darner. The program began back in 1969-70 with Hall of Fame coach Dave Buss leading the way, and 48 years later and 862 total wins carries into another season. The program has now finished .500 or better in 10 of the last 11 seasons and has won 18 or more games in five-straight years.

YOUR BETTER HALF
The Phoenix, with its third place finish in the Horizon League regular season last year, has now finished in the top half of the league standings in five-straight seasons. During this stretch, the team has also made five-straight postseason appearances and finished Top 3 in the HL in four of those years. Of course, the Phoenix punched its NCAA Tournament bid in 2016 after winning four games in four days in Detroit, and captured the regular season title in 2014. Most impressively, Green Bay is the only team in the HL to have finished in the top half in each of the past five seasons.

SENIOR SWAG
The 2017-18 senior leadership will be carried by seniors Khalil Small and David Jesperson, both entering their final seasons in a Phoenix uniform. Small has not missed a game over the last two seasons (68 total), and has started in 60 of those games. Jesperson appeared in 30 of his team's 32 games from a season ago, after sitting out 2015-16 upon transferring. The two seniors at the top is far apart from the six seniors the Phoenix featured last season, each of whom graduated this past May.

OPPORTUNITY AWAITS
With the departure of eight key players from a season ago, coach Darner and his staff will be faced with the tall task of replacing over 80 percent of its scoring and over 80 percent of its minutes played from last year. Six graduating seniors and two transfers created a roster that boasts three familiar faces and a plethora of newcomers. All told, 15.6 PPG returns from this past season, but this vacancy creates a an opportunity for the many young faces and JUCO transfers to step in. They also won't have a choice, especially with Cody Schwartz sitting for the season due to NCAA Division I transfer rules and Sandy Cohen III not eligible until Dec. 21.

COHEN GRANTED
Now a redshirt-junior, Seymour native Sandy Cohen III was granted an additional year of eligibility, the program announced on October 6, 2017. Cohen III will become eligible on Dec. 21 at home against Bowling Green and will then have another full season (2018-19) remaining. The Marquette-transfer averaged 11.0 PPG for the team in Puerto Rico and led the team in rebounding with 5.5 RPG. "This is great news for Sandy and our program." Agreed.

DEFENSE NOT SMALL
Senior Khalil Small was named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team last season, serving as the team's lock down defender and being forced to guard some of the best players in the HL. The Chicago native averaged 5.2 RPG, registered over a steal per game and finished with 9.6 PPG in league games last season.

JUCO JUMP
TJ Parham and Sukhjot Bains will make the jump from the JUCO ranks to the Division I level this season, and will be relied upon early and often for the Phoenix. Parham brings a wealth of experience as a redshirt-sophomore, spending last season at Wabash Valley College in Illinois, averaging 15.4 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 30 games. Bains averaged 13.4 PPG and 8.0 RPG at Northwest College in Wyoming and brings a good combination of size and shooting, which fits well in Darner's RP40 system.

KRASHING THE KRESS
For the first time in program history, Green Bay will host a Horizon League contest at the Kress Center on campus. The Phoenix will host UIC on Friday, Feb. 16, for an 8 p.m. tip with the game to be televised nationally on the ESPN Family of Networks. Working in conjunction with the Green Bay Alumni Association, "Krash the Kress" will serve as the Phoenix's final home game of the 2017-18 season. More information on the game and event, including promotions, activities and game details will be released later.

HOOPS IN THE HEARTLAND
The Phoenix will take part in the 2017 Hoops in the Heartland benefitting Men Against Breast Cancer, playing three home games and one road game. The team will host Lakeland College on Friday, Nov. 17, its first official home game of the year, before traveling to Mississippi State on Monday, Nov. 20. Green Bay then returns home for a pair of games against two teams from the Sunshine State in Florida A&M (Friday, Nov. 24) and Stetson (Monday, Nov. 27).

HARD HORIZON
Green Bay will be put to the test to open league action, playing seven games in the first 15 days of the Horizon League schedule. The Phoenix will open at home with Detroit Mercy (Dec. 28) and Oakland (Dec. 30) before the New Year, and will host the league's newest member in IUPUI on Jan. 2.

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