DETROIT, Mich. - The Green Bay Phoenix (17-9, 9-5 Horizon League) moved to a perfect 5-0 in games decided by four points or less this season by edging the Detroit Titans (15-11, 7-7) by a 64-62 count Thursday night at Calihan Hall. The Phoenix won its sixth straight head-to-head meeting, and swept the season series by virtue of a pair of final-possession two-point wins over the Titans.
The Phoenix secured the victory by forcing a Woody Payne turnover just before time expired. The Titans had stopped Green Bay on its final possession and Payne took the ball up the court with seven seconds left, but was unable to get a shot off after driving toward the lane.
Freshman Seth Evans (Seneca, Ill.) was credited with the steal, his second key theft in the waning minutes. His steal that led to a Rahmon Fletcher (Kansas City, Mo.) layup with 2:12 remaining put the Phoenix on top for good at 61-60.
Fletcher scored a game-high 16 points and also led the squad with five assists and four steals. Rian Pearson (Raytown, Mo.) added 10 points, all in the first half. Randy Berry (Plover, Wis.) finished with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Green Bay limited Detroit to just 36.5 percent shooting from the field (23 for 63). It was the lowest shooting percentage by a Phoenix foe since UIC connected at a 35.5 percent clip on Dec. 5, a span of 16 games.
Green Bay led throughout much of the contest, including by as many as nine in the opening stanza.
The win keeps the Phoenix in a share of third place in the Horizon League standings with Wright State, its opponent on Saturday (6 p.m. CT) in Dayton, Ohio. Both teams are ½ game behind Cleveland State (9-4).
--GreenBayPhoenix.com--
