DETROIT (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – A career-high 27 points from Charles Cooper and a pair of clutch free throws with two seconds remaining by Jordan Fouse lifted the Green Bay men's basketball team to an 86-85 victory at Detroit on Thursday night at Calihan Hall.
Green Bay (15-10, 7-5 HL) was able to avoid back-to-back losses yet again, marking the fifth time in conference play they've been able to bounce back and get a big win. The Phoenix was able to knock off Detroit (12-12, 6-7 HL) for the seventh-straight time, the longest such winning streak by either team in the series.
Cooper, who was coming off back-to-back single point performances, exploded for a career-high 25 points on a hot-shooting10-for-12 effort from the floor and a 7-for-9 showing at the free throw line. The junior poured in 16 points in the first half, and made big finish after big finish down the stretch run of the game.
The Phoenix led by six, 84-78, with 2:39 to play, but the Titans would go on to cut the lead to 84-82 after a pair of made free throws. After both teams missed some shots, it was a steal by Cooper with six seconds left that was the difference, after Paris Bass grabbed the rebound and Cooper was able to swipe it away. Cooper then dished it out to Fouse who was quickly fouled.
Fouse, who recorded his eighth double-double of the year after totaling 16 points and 10 rebounds, was able to convert the front end of the one-and-one to give his team a three-point lead and then calmly buried the most important one, putting the game out of reach at 86-82 with 2.3 seconds left. Bass would bank in a running three-pointer to end the game, giving the Phoenix its first one-point win of the season.
The stat-stuffing Fouse also notched three steals, now resting just six steals away from becoming the Horizon League's all-time career leader in steals. Fouse was also credited with four blocks in the contest.
Kerem Kanter showed up huge off the bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds. Kanter has now scored in double figures in two of the last three games for the Phoenix. Kenneth Lowe tallied 11 points, giving him his fourth-straight game in double figures. Lowe also pulled down seven rebounds.
Carrington Love had an all-around performance, finishing with six assists and six rebounds and totaling seven points.
Detroit was led by Bass, who finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
The Phoenix will look to do something it hasn't done all season on Saturday (Feb. 13), by winning back-to-back games on the road in conference play. Green Bay visits Oakland for a 2 p.m. CT tip at the Athletics Center O'rena.
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