By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) nearly outscored visiting Drake by himself in the opening half (20-18) as Green Bay (7-2) opened up a big halftime lead, and the senior's teammates used impressive defense down the stretch to make sure it held up in a 64-48 victory at the Resch Center on Saturday afternoon.

Sykes finished with a season-high 23 points and added four steals. Green Bay finished with 14 steals, just two shy of the program's single-game record.

The game was tied at 6-6 just five minutes into the first half and Sykes had missed his first two shot attempts, including an airballed three-pointer.

Senior Alfonzo McKinnie (Chicago, Ill.) broke the tie with a dunk, and then Sykes started seeing the ball go through the net with regularity. The senior guard converted a fastbreak layup, and then knocked down four consecutive shots from beyond the arc. He finished the night 5-of-7 on three-pointers.

The final three shots from long range were during a 15-2 Phoenix run that turned a 16-13 lead into a 31-15 advantage with 4:16 to play before halftime.

Sykes' sixth-straight made field goal came on a layup with 2:56 to play, and the Chicago native added two free throws to close the first-half scoring as Green Bay led 37-20 at intermission. Sykes was 6-of-10 from the field at halftime for 18 points, and Green Bay's defense was holding Drake to just 30.4 percent shooting.

In the second half, Green Bay's advantage was only 12 with 7:15 to play when Sykes went to the bench with his fourth foul. Any thoughts of a Drake rally were squelched thanks to the Phoenix defense, and Green Bay's point guard never needed to return to the floor.

With junior Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) scoring five points and fellow junior Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) throwing down a dunk in transition, Green Bay went on an 8-0 run to build the lead to 62-42.

During the run, which spanned more than five minutes, Green Bay held Drake to 0-of-4 shooting while forcing four turnovers and collecting three steals and two blocks.

Fouse scored 13 points and added a game-high eight rebounds as the Phoenix held a 29-21 margin on the glass. Love added 12 points, a career-high seven assists and three steals.

Drake became the third Phoenix opponent this season and 17th in the past five season under head coach Brian Wardle to fail to reach 50 points. Green Bay also improved to 50-13 under Wardle at home.  

Green Bay remains home and returns to action on Wednesday night, hosting Morehead State at 7 p.m. at the Resch Center.

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