By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - In the beginning contest of a three-game series with Tony Bennett and Virginia (5-1) on Friday night, the Green Bay men's basketball team suffered through tough beginnings to both halves and fell victim to the host Cavaliers 68-42 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.

Bennett, in his third season at UVA, played at Green Bay from 1988-92 and is the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,285 career points. He played for his father, Dick, and his career three-point percentage of 49.7 percent is still the NCAA record.

Green Bay will return to Charlottesville in 2012-13 before Bennett and the Cavaliers visit the Resch Center in Green Bay in 2013-14.

The Phoenix (2-4), playing its fourth true road game of the month of November, were led by freshman Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.), who scored all 11 of his points in the second half. Sophomores Alec Brown (Winona, Minn.) and Terry Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) each added nine points for the Phoenix.

Senior Steve Baker (St. Paul, Minn.) got the Phoenix off to an early 3-0 lead, but Virginia responded with the next 14 points and never looked back. The Cavaliers eventually built its first-half lead to as many as 20 (27-7).

Green Bay used stifling defense over the final eight and a half minutes of the first half to slice into the Cavaliers lead. After KT Harrell put Virginia ahead 27-7 with 8:12 on the clock, the Phoenix defense held the hosts without a field goal over the duration of the opening half.

Brown, who picked up his second foul less than five minutes into the game, scored seven points after returning to the floor as Green Bay ended the half on a 16-6 run to close to 33-23 at the break.

Virginia also opened the second half with a flourish, scoring the first 10 points to turn its advantage intermission into a 20-point margin (43-23).

Mike Scott, a Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, had a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Bennett's Cavaliers. KT Harrell added 14 points off the bench.

Green Bay returns home this week to open Horizon League play at the Resch Center. The Phoenix hosts UIC on Thursday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Loyola to Green Bay on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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