By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – With UALR's defense focusing on Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) and two Phoenix big men in foul trouble, Green Bay (9-2) looked for offense from a trio of other players. Senior Alfonzo McKinnie (Chicago, Ill.) and juniors Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) and Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) responded in a big way, combining for 46 points as Green Bay defeated UALR 66-46 on Sunday afternoon in the opener of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
McKinnie had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. The 6-foot-8 senior transfer, playing his 20th game in a Phoenix uniform, made 7-of-9 shots from the field and both of his three-pointers. Fouse tied his career high with 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Love reached double figures for the fourth-straight game with 13 points and five assists.
With the victory, Green Bay moves to the tournament championship game against UC-Irvine, who rallied from a 27-11 deficit to defeat Bradley 55-47. The championship game is set for Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CST.
Green Bay started quickly in both halves, including jumping out to a 6-0 lead to start the game. The Phoenix lead grew to 16-9 on a dunk from McKinnie with 11:43 to play before halftime.
UALR, picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference and averaging 73-plus points per game entering the contest, rallied and took a 25-24 lead with 5:48 on the clock. Love made a three, McKinnie hit a jumper and Fouse scored the final four points as Green Bay led 33-29 at the break.
Playing against a box-and-one defense, Sykes took just one shot in the first half but tallied five assists and five rebounds as the Phoenix shot 56.0 percent in the half (14-25).
McKinnie started the second half with the first four points and also hit a three-pointer during a 15-2 run that extended the Phoenix lead to 48-31 with 13:01 remaining.
UALR closed the margin to nine points with 7:36 on the clock, but the Phoenix defense clamped down and held the Trojans to only two points the rest of the way. Sykes scored all five of his points down the stretch as Green Bay closed the game on a 13-2 run.
Green Bay's senior All-American candidate finished with five points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. He saw his streak of 29-straight games in double figures come to an end. The last time he did not reach double digits was ironically on Dec. 21, 2013.
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