HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- The Green Bay men's basketball team continued their season's longest road trip Thursday night at Northern Kentucky. The game came down to the wire, with GB falling just short, 79-74.

The Phoenix (2-10, 1-2) had four players score in double figures, led by Kamari McGee, who had 15 points and two steals. Emmanuel Ansong tacked on 14 points and Japannah Kellogg III helped out with 13 points.

Ansong pulled down three offensive rebounds to lead Green Bay on the offensive glass. The Phoenix pulled down 12 boards on that end and turned them into 14 second chance points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams traded baskets early on until a 10-0 Green Bay run that culminated in a McGee three gave the Phoenix a 20-13 lead. The Norse responded with five straight to bring the score to 20-18, which was followed by GB's second big run of the half, a 13-4 dash that gave the Phoenix a 33-22 lead with 3:53 left in the half. Northern Kentucky did a good job to trim that lead and went into the half down just five. Green Bay got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 10 of its 38 total points.

Northern Kentucky started the second half the same way they ended the first and quickly grabbed a 41-40 lead thanks to an 8-2 run in the first two minutes of the frame. The teams once again traded baskets in the second, but the Norse were able to slightly outpace the Phoenix. It looked like Green Bay might make a late comeback thanks to a Lucas Stieber three with 1:14 left in the game the brought the score to 72-74, but the hosts responded with a made jumper and two free throws to ice the game.

GAME NOTES

» McGee led the Phoenix with 15 points, he has now scored in double figures in four straight games.
» In his return, Stieber finished with nine points on a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
» Kellogg III has now scored 10+ points in two out of the last three games.
» Ryan Claflin scored a career-high 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
» Green Bay got a team-high eight rebounds from Stieber.
» Every player that got minutes for Green Bay on Thursday scored.
» Northern Kentucky won the rebounding battle 37-33.
» The Phoenix bench outscored the Norse bench 22-14.

WHAT'S NEXT
Green Bay will close out the road trip on Saturday at Wright State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Following, the Phoenix will return home for an in-state showdown with Milwaukee on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m at the Resch Center.

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