By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Senior Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) scored a game-high 22 points, including a game-tying three-pointer with 18.5 seconds to play on Monday afternoon, but UC-Irvine's Alex Young made a game-winning fallaway jumper with 1.7 seconds left to give the Anteaters a 72-70 win over Green Bay (9-3) in the championship game of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic.
Sykes moved into fifth place all-time on Green Bay's scoring list with 1,694 career points, passing Rahmon Fletcher (1678, 2007-11) and former teammate Alec Brown (1678, 2010-14). He has also now scored more points in his college career than his head coach Brian Wardle (1,690 career points at Marquette).
Sykes scored five points in the opening minute as Green Bay jumped in front 9-0 at the 19:03 mark. All five starters had scored when junior Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) made a floater to put the Phoenix in front 13-3.
The Anteaters, the defending champions in the Big West Conference, responded with a 12-2 run to tie the score at 15-15.
Knocking down five three-pointers, UC-Irvine led by 12 (39-27) at the under-4 media timeout before Green Bay scored the final six points of the half. The Anteaters made 14-of-25 threes and 5-of-8 threes in the first 20 minutes.
Green Bay started fast in the second half as well, but the Anteaters stayed hot from long range again and used three three-pointers to still lead 48-43 at the 16:37 mark.
Senior Greg Mays (Chicago, Ill.) threw down a dunk with 9:20 to play to tie the game at 57-57, but UC-Irvine jumped back in front by five.
The game was tied at 66 when senior Alfonzo McKinnie (Chicago, Ill.) was whistled for his fifth foul with 43 seconds to play. Young went to the line and made two free throws. Sykes split a pair of free throws with 28 seconds left to make it 68-67, and Young made two more from the line to extend the lead to three.
Sykes drained the tying three-pointer from the top of the key with 18 seconds to play, but after a timeout UC-Irvine got the ball to Young, who ruined the Phoenix chances at a second tournament title with his fadeaway.
Facing a box-and-one for the second-straight game, Sykes made 6-of-10 shots from the field and 8-of-11 free throws. Junior Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) added 16 points and seven rebounds and Mays totaled 14 points. Love and Fouse (7 points, 5 rebounds) earned spots on the all-tournament team.
Green Bay finished the game at 40.7 percent from the field and UC-Irvine shot 46.9 percent. The Anteaters entered the game shooting just 32 percent from long range and averaging 5.5 makes per game, but on Monday they knocked down 10-of-16.
The Phoenix returns home on Saturday, Dec. 27, hosting Georgia State at 12 p.m. at the Resch Center.
#
Season tickets, 5-game packs and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information on ticketing and seating options, visit the ticketing page on GreenBayPhoenix.com or by calling 920.465.2625.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix and @GBPhoenixMBB.
Like Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball and Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.
