ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --Donovan Ivory scored a Phoenix season-high 27 points and Emmanuel Ansong had 18 more, but the Phoenix fell to the Florida International Panthers 63-60 at the Jersey Mike's Classic Friday.

Ivory had an efficient night from the floor, scoring his 27 points on 9-of-16 (56.3-percent) shooting from the floor, and 4-of-8 (50.0-percent) from three. Ansong tacked on his second career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Lucas Stieber added a career-high nine assists.

Green Bay grabbed 38 rebounds in Friday's game compared to Florida International's 34, led by Ansong's 10 boards. The Phoenix also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 11 rebounds into nine second chance points.

The Green Bay defense held Florida International shooters to just 36.0-percent from the field, including 15.0-percent from three-point range. The Phoenix also kept the Panthers leading scorer Tevin Brewer to just 3-of-13 shooting in the game. The Panthers did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only seven offensive rebounds and scored four second chance points while Green Bay pulled down 27 boards on the defensive end.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After falling behind 3-2, Green Bay went on a 6-0 run with 18:47 left in the first half to take an 8-3 lead. The Phoenix  lost some of that lead throughout the rest of the half, but still entered halftime with a 31-27 advantage. Green Bay relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 31 points. Ivory was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in the half.

FIU erased the Green Bay lead down the stretch and completed 63-60 comeback victory. Green Bay got a boost from its bench in the half, as non-starters accounted for 12 of its 29 total points.

GAME NOTES

» The Phoenix put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 71-percent of made field goals.
» Donovan Ivory, Emmanuel Ansong, and Kamari McGee combined to account for 87-percent of the Phoenix points.
» Green Bay played solid perimeter defense, holding Florida International to 15 percent from three point land on 20 attempts.
» Friday's night was Green Bay's third loss of the season under four points.
» The Phoenix won the rebounding battle 38-34.

UP NEXT
GB will play their third and final game at the Jersey Mike's Classic on Friday at 11 a.m. against Weber State. The Wildcats have started the season 4-0 with wins over UMass and Ball State in Florida.

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