By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)

ROCHESTER, Mich. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay (14-4, 3-1 HL) got off to slow starts in both halves on Thursday night, and furious rallies fell short as host Oakland (6-12, 2-2 HL) pulled out a 69-66 victory and ended a five-game winning streak for the Phoenix. Green Bay had won 11 of its past 12 road games in league play.

Senior Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) led four Green Bay players with a team-high 19 points, but missed key moments due to foul trouble after two second-half charges.

Oakland opened the game with a 10-3 lead and led by as many as eight in the opening half, but the Phoenix used three consecutive dunks as part of a 14-6 run to go in front 35-34 with 1:47 to play before halftime. The Golden Grizzlies, who shot 60.9 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, scored the final six points and led 40-35 at halftime.  

Sykes and senior Greg Mays (Chicago, Ill.) each had 10 points in the first half. Mays finished with 15 points, his fourth-straight double figure effort.

Oakland used a quick start to the second half to go in front 45-37, but Sykes scored the final five points of a 10-0 run which put the Phoenix in front.

The Golden Grizzlies immediately grabbed the lead again and were in front 59-56 with 8:09 to play. During a 6-0 Oakland run, Sykes was called for yet another charge and went to the bench. He returned with 4:55 remaining and Oakland had its biggest lead of the night (67-58) with 3:44 left.

The Phoenix scored the next six points to close to 67-64 with 2:11 remaining on a dunk from Mays, and after a pair of free throws from the Golden Grizzlies, Sykes scored in transition with 48 seconds left. Green Bay got a defensive stop and took the ball with 12.2 on the clock.

Sykes got a look at a triple on the final possession, but the shot missed short and Oakland grabbed the defensive rebound as the clock ran out.

Junior Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 12 points and junior Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) added 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Phoenix.

Green Bay returns to action on Saturday in the Motor City, playing at Detroit at 2 p.m. CST.

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