INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) --- No. 3 Green Bay's hopes of reaching the Horizon League Tournament Championship game came up short on Monday Night at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in the semifinals, as the Phoenix fell to No. 2 Northern Kentucky, 80-69.
 
NKU struck first but the Phoenix offense responded with an 11-2 run over a span of four minutes, 22 seconds to take control of the game early.
 
Green Bay went on a 7-0 run just before the under-eight media, which was highlighted by three points at the free throw line from JayQuan McCloud after drawing a foul from long range to put the Phoenix in front 23-17.
 
Green Bay struggled from distance early, turning in a 1-for-10 performance from three-point range in the first half. The cold shooting from long range seemed to be contagious, as the Norse endured their own hardships and shot only 2-for-12.
 
GB overcame the cold spell and carried a 30-29 advantage into the locker room at the break, taking the lead after McCloud scored on a baseline drive to cap his half at nine points on the final Phoenix possession.
 
NKU took a lead and created some separation with a 14-4 run which was ignited by eight-straight points from Jalen Tate, with the Norse leading 57-51.
 
At the 8:32 mark in the second half, Davis hit a pair of free throws to pass Tony Bennett and become the program's all-time leading scorer as a freshman, surpassing Bennett's total of 516 points which stood for more than 30 years.
 
A jumper from Davis with 4:42 left on the clock brought the Phoenix within two, 62-60, but that was the closest Green Bay would come to defeating the Norse as time continued to wind down. An 11-4 run which was finished off by three-straight free throws from Tate pushed the Norse lead to nine with only 1:32 remaining.
 
Cody Schwartz kept GB's hopes alive by burying a deep three-pointer to bring Green Bay within six, 73-67, but the Norse continued sink free throws to hold the Phoenix off and pull out the victory 80-69. 
 
McCloud led the Phoenix with 16 points and was joined in double figures by Davis (14) and Schwartz (12). NKU's Tate led all scorers with 23 points.

The defeat may have been the final game for the quartet of seniors Kameron Hankerson, JayQuan McCloud, Josh McNair and Cody Schwartz. The group enjoyed back-to-back top four finishes and semifinal apperances, with McCloud and Hankerson netting over 1,000 career points. 

Whether Green Bay participates in a postseason tournament is still to be determined. GB could receive an invite to either the CIT or the CBI, and will consider participation like it did a season ago.

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