DEKALB, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- Senior JayQuan McCloud poured in a career-high 32 points and Manny Patterson impressed again with 15 points of own, helping Green Bay steal the 85-84 win on the road on Saturday afternoon at Northern Illinois. The Phoenix (5-8) continued its hot shooting, hitting a season-high 13 3-pointers and finishing 47.6 percent (30-63) from the field against a Huskies (7-6) team that came in allowing only 61.7 PPG.

GB needed a defensive hold on the last possession, one that saw NIU get two looks at the basket only to come up empty. NIU was left with a wide open 3-pointer with 5 seconds left, but that shot was off the mark and so was the floater in the lane after the loose ball ended up in NIU's hands. It's GB's second true road game win this season, also winning at Montana State earlier this season.

Patterson was strong inside once again, netting 15 points on a 7-for-10 shooting effort. The junior has now scored in double-figures in each of his last three games, and earned the start as well. Fellow-forward Cody Schwartz had a strong game as well, narrowly missing out on a double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds. He hit 3 triples. 

It was the play of the shooting guard McCloud that was ultimately the difference, as the NIU guards at no answer against the hot shooting senior. He hit a career-high 6 3-pointers and went 8-for-9 at the free throw line, also grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. 

This marked the final game of the nonconference season for the Phoenix, who finish 5-8 but challenged themselves with high-major competition. GB played 8 games on the road, including 5 against teams from power 5 conferences. The Phoenix also played strong mid-majors in Colgate and Evansville, both of which have scored wins over high major teams this season in Kentucky and Cincinnati.

GB will be battle tested heading into Horizon League play next weekend, which starts at Wright State (Dec. 28) and Northern Kentucky (Dec. 30). Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard on WDUZ The Fan. 


QUICK HITS

• McCloud dumped a career-high 32 points, on a career-high 6 made 3s. His previous high was 26 points. 
• Leading scorer Amari Davis finished with 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds
• GB led 44-41 at the break
• Hunter Crist dished out 4 assists and hit a big 3-pointer to close the first half
• Will Chevalier hit a season-high 3 3-pointers, scoring 9 points and grabbing 5 rebounds
• This was the third-straight season the two teams have met, with GB winning 2 out of 3. They meet again next year in Green Bay.
• GB has scored 80 or more points in seven games this year
• GB will play 5 of its first 7 HL games at home
• NIU led 21-10 to start the game, but the Phoenix stuck with it before coming back to lead at halftime
• GB led the final 19:30 of the game
• GB went 12-for-17 from the FT line
• The Phoenix assisted on 19 of their 30 made field goals

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