GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay men's basketball team couldn't close the gap in a 78-64 loss to the UIC Flames in their home opener Saturday night.
The Phoenix (0-6, 0-0 HL) had two players in double figures, led by Brock Heffner's 19 points. GB trailed by a single-digit margin with under three minutes to play, but UIC pulled away late.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UIC opened up an early 12-4 lead before Green Bay scored four unanswered points, courtesy of a Donovan Short layup and a jumper by Clarence Cummings III. The Flames then opened a 21-12 lead at the halfway mark of the opening frame before Cummings and Davin Ziegler brought the deficit back to three points. Both teams played even basketball for the remainder of the half, with the Flames claiming a seven-point advantage at halftime, 36-29. Heffner contributed six of the last eight Phoenix points and totaled eight in the first half.
The second half featured choppy play, highlighted by 31 fouls assessed between the two teams. UIC tacked another nine points onto its lead in the first five minutes of the half until the Phoenix began to claw back. Nate Jenkins, Randy Tucker, and Garren Davis each converted two free throws to bring life to Green Bay. GB connected on 21 of 25 shots from the charity stripe throughout the half, making up most of their 35 points. Two made free throws from Heffner at the 2:50 mark brought the Phoenix within nine at 60-69, but UIC closed out on a 9-4 run, settling the score at 64-78.
GAME NOTES
» Cummings III scored ten points for the Phoenix, followed by Ziegler and Cade Meyer with eight each.
» Green Bay got five rebounds from both Jenkins and Davis.
» Davin Ziegler recorded two steals for GB.
» GB scored 12 second-chance points on the strength of nine offensive rebounds.
» Tre Anderson led UIC with 25 points and five assists.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will continue their homestand on Thursday, opening up Horizon League play against in-state rival Milwaukee. Green Bay will get a long weekend before returning to the Resch Center to play IUPUI on Monday, Dec. 5.
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