By: Joey Daniels
CHARLESTON, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Rallying from a 10-point deficit in the second half, the Green Bay men's basketball team made nine of its last 10 free throws to seal its first road victory of the season, winning 81-72 at Eastern Illinois on Saturday night at Lantz Arena.
The Phoenix (3-3) would take a 56-55 lead with 7:15 left and would not give it back, earning its third-straight win following the team's 0-3 start. Tevin Findlay knocked down a timely three-pointer after Turner Botz got his defender in the air and kicked it to the open Findlay, who finished the game with 10 points off the bench for the Phoenix.
Despite the poor free throw shooting throughout the duration of the game (finished 22-for-39) by Green Bay, the team would convert nine of its last 10 total attempts to secure the tough win. Senior Carrington Love, who led the Phoenix with 25 points and six rebounds, made seven-straight free throws in the last 1:09 of the game.
Senior Jordan Fouse registered his second double-double of the year and the 10th of his career, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Fouse also added a pair of blocks and made his second three-pointer of the young season at a crucial point of the game.
The biggest three-pointer of the game may have come off the fingertips of Khalil Small, who nailed a top of the key three to give the Phoenix its largest lead of the game at 10 with under 3:30 to play in the contest. Small finished with a career-high 13 points in just 17 minutes of play, making four free throws and four field goals.
The Phoenix defense was on display once again, holding the host Panthers (0-4) to 3-for-19 from beyond the arc, including a shutdown 0-for-12 effort in the second half alone. Eastern Illinois also turned the ball over 21 times, tying Green Bay's high mark this season (at Stanford).
It was a balanced attack from head coach Linc Darner's team once again, as 10 of 11 players to play in the game scored at least one point. Green Bay also added 13 steals, increasing the full court pressure and wearing down the OVC-members as the game progressed.
Green Bay will go for its fourth-straight win on Monday night when it remains on the road at SIUE (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT in Edwardsville, Ill.
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