By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Senior Greg Mays (Chicago, Ill.) had a career high by halftime on Wednesday night, scoring 26 of his 34 points in the first half to lead Green Bay (21-6, 10-3 HL) to a 96-76 victory over visiting Detroit (12-17, 5-9 HL) in Horizon League action at the Resch Center.

Mays made 8-of-12 shots and 10-of-12 free throws in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 11-straight points during a 16-3 run to turn a 31-31 tie into a 47-34 lead at halftime. The senior was fouled on five of his eight made field goals in the half, including a dunk that led to a flagrant foul and a six-point possession in the final minute. Mays tied the Resch Center record for points in a half.

Rarely overshadowed, fellow senior Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) quietly put together an impressive all-around game. The point guard finished with 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds without committing a turnover in 38 minutes. Sykes, who has now scored 1,963 points, dished out his 500th career assist on Wednesday.

The two seniors fueled the best offensive night of the season for head coach Brian Wardle's team, which won its 17th-straight regular season game following a loss, a streak dating back to January of 2013. The 96 points were a season high for the Phoenix, which finished 31-of-56 from the field for 55.4 percent. Green Bay also had a season-high 27 assists, tied for the ninth-most in program history and the most in the history of the Resch Center.

Juniors Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) and Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) were also solid as the quartet of players finished with 85 of the team's 96 points. Love scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half while Fouse tallied 13 points, nine assists, six rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots.

Green Bay, locked in a two-way tie for second place with Cleveland State, will host the Vikings on Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Resch Center. The first 1,000 fans 21 years or over will receive a free Phoenix hat courtesy of Menominee Casino, and the game is also Bud Light Night with $2 24-ounce Bud Lights.  

Team Notes

• With 45 wins in the past two seasons, Green Bay has won the most combined games in consecutive seasons since 1994-95 and 1995-96
• The Phoenix improved to 12-0 at home in 2014-15 and has now won 26 of the past 31 homes games and has a 59-13 home record under head coach Brian Wardle
• Green Bay dished out 27 assists, tying a Resch Center record and tied for the tenth most in program history
• The 27 helpers were the most by a Phoenix team since Dec. 20, 2008 (27 vs. North Dakota)
• Green Bay scored a season-high 96 points and made a season-high 28 free throws
• With the win, the Phoenix has now won 17-straight games following a regular season loss

Individual Notes

• Greg Mays (34) and Keifer Sykes (23) combined for the most points by a Phoenix duo in the program's Division I history.
• Mays had career-high totals in free throws made (14) and attempted (17).
• The 57 combined points mark the most by Green Bay teammates since Dennis Woelffer (32) and Leon Mitchell (27) totaled 59 on Dec. 23, 1971.
• Mays' 26 points in the opening half tied the Resch Center record for most points in a half (Mike Schachtner vs. Chicago State on Dec. 12, 2006.
• Sykes reached 500 career assists in the win and now has 504 to rank third all-time in program history.
• Junior Jordan Fouse moved into seventh place on the program's all-time rebounding chart (699), passing Randy Berry.
• Fouse tallied four steals against Detroit, and now ranks third all-time with 179 steals after passing Frank Nardi.

#

The best tickets for each of Green Bay's remaining games are on sale. 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.