By: Joey Daniels
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Scorching out to a 16-1 lead on Monday night, the Green Bay men's basketball team picked up its fourth-straight win of the year in convincing fashion at the Vadalabene Center, cruising to an 87-69 victory to move its record above .500 for the first time this season.
The Phoenix (4-3) opened up a huge lead and entered halftime up by 26 points, the largest lead it's held at any point this season. Green Bay shot 61.8 percent (21-for-34) in the first half, converted six of eight three-point attempts and also went 6-of-7 at the free throw line.
Senior Jordan Fouse continued his statistical-packing season, finishing with a career-high 22 points, six rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Fouse shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field and made two three-pointers in a game for the first time all year.
The high-pressure defense seems to finally be clicking, as the Phoenix has now given up their three lowest point totals of the season in its last three games. Green Bay forced SIUE (1-5) into 11 turnovers, and converted those turnovers into 20 points, the fifth time this season the team has scored 20 or more points off turnovers.
Four other players finished in double figures for the Phoenix, led by Carrington Love (17 points) and Charles Cooper (15 points) who continued their double-figure scoring averages. Turner Botz registered a career-high 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Kenneth Lowe added 10 points of his own with three blocks.
SIUE would cut the Phoenix lead to 13 in the second half, but Green Bay would come through with timely shots and enough defense to fend off the hosts. Green Bay finished the game with a field goal percentage above 50 percent (53.1 percent, 34-for-64) for the first time since Feb. 28 of last year.
Green Bay will now return home for three-straight games, starting with a bid for its fifth-straight win on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Toledo. Tip-off set for 2 p.m. at the Resch Center.
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