GREEN BAY, Wis. - Green Bay (16-9, 8-5 Horizon League) limited
Milwaukee (13-11, 5-7) to just 20 second-half points en route to a 61-54 win in
another hard-fought game between the arch rivals at the Resch Center. For the eighth
time in the series' last nine games, the contest was decided by single digits.
Green Bay freshman Matt Smith (Whitewright, Texas) totaled
11 first-half points, including a long 2-pointer just prior to the buzzer, to
buoy the Phoenix to a two-point lead at intermission (36-34).
The Phoenix held the Panthers to two points in the first 10
minutes of the second half, but wasn't able to get away from UWM. Green Bay's
biggest lead of the game was nine, 50-41, with 5:16 remaining, but the Panthers
clawed back with six straight.
Rahmon Fletcher's (Kansas City, Mo.) 3-pointer from the
right wing with the shot clock winding down with 36 seconds left was the dagger,
as it put the Phoenix up 57-50. Milwaukee was unable to make it a
one-possession game the rest of the way.
Fletcher tied Smith for team-high scoring honors at 13. The
13 points were a career high for Smith, who went 5-for-6 from the field.
Randy Berry (Plover, Wis.) recorded his league-leading
eighth double-double of the season with a 10-point, 13-rebound effort. His 13
boards equaled his career best.
The Phoenix shot just 35.1 percent from the field (20 of 57),
but made 15 of 21 free throws. The Panthers were 23 of 54 from the floor but took just eight free
throws, making four.
Green Bay committed only 10 turnovers and had a 37-35 edge
on the glass.
The Phoenix returns to the road next week with a pair of
league road games beginning Thursday at Detroit (6 p.m. CT).
--www.GreenBayPhoenix.com--
