GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Green Bay moved within a half-game for the Horizon League lead on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a convincing 86-69 win over rival and league-leading Valparaiso at the Resch Center. The Phoenix (15-9, 9-3 HL) led for over 38 minutes and scored the highest point total against Valpo (19-5, 9-2 HL) in league play this season.
After the two teams exchanged baskets to start, Kerem Kanter hit a 3 to give the Phoenix a 6-4 lead that it would hold the rest of the game. Kanter made two 3s in the first half and scored nine points, and the Phoenix took a nine-point lead into halftime after shooting 50 percent (5-for-10) from beyond the arc and 51.6 percent (16-for-31) from the field.
Kanter finished with a team-high 17 points, and finished a rebound shy for his fifth double-double of the season. Charles Cooper went 7-for-10 at the free throw line and finished with 15 points and five rebounds, helping power the Phoenix's 35 bench points.
Turner Botz knocked down four 3-pointers and recorded 12 points, marking the fourth time this season he has converted four 3s in a game. Fellow Little Chute teammate Kenneth Lowe tallied 11 points of his own to go with three steals and five rebounds. Lowe held up strong against the league's leading scorer in Alec Peters, forcing him into a game-high four turnovers.
Green Bay outrebounded Valpo 53-32, including 20 on the offensive end. That's the largest rebounding margin against the Crusaders this season and the most rebounds they've allowed in a game.
Warren Jones and Tevin Findlay were both strong in the backcourt for the Phoenix, combining for 15 points, 10 assists and 9-for-13 from the free throw line. Jones' 12 points gave him his sixth-straight game in double-figures and marked the eighth time in the last nine games.
Green Bay (9-3) and Valparaiso (9-2) both own nine league wins and have now split the regular season series. The Phoenix will now hit the road for four-straight games, while Valpo returns home for a pair.
UP NEXT: Green Bay visits Northern Kentucky on Thursday, Feb. 9, for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
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