GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cade Meyer scored a career-high 25 points, and the Phoenix secured a 70-64 win against the Kansas City Roos at home Saturday.
The Phoenix (2-8, 1-1 HL) picked up their first nonconference win of the season. Brock Heffner tacked on 17 points, six rebounds, and four blocks in a solid all-around effort.
Shemarri Allen led Kansas City (4-9, 0-0 Summit League), who scored 28 points. RayQuawndis Mitchell added 16 points and five rebounds for the Roos.
"I think the difference is other than their last flurry toward the end when they hit some threes, our guys did a good job defending tonight," explained head coach Will Ryan after the game. "Their guards got loose for a few but overall, our guys did well."
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 4-0, Green Bay held Kansas City scoreless for six and a half minutes, going on a 7-0 run with Meyer accounting for five of those points. Kansas City then went on a run of its own, making a couple of threes to extend their lead to 19-10 with 8:15 left. GB called timeout and came out of the break determined, gradually chipping away at the lead until a Randy Tucker three-pointer gave the Phoenix a 27-26 lead with just over two minutes to go. Late fouls and turnovers by Green Bay allowed the Roos to retake the lead heading into halftime, with a score of 30-27.
Meyer stole the show early in the second half, scoring five of the first seven Phoenix points. The Phoenix held a 34-32 lead two and a half minutes into the frame, and the game remained close until GB went on a 7-2 run with 13:16 to play. Heffner and Clarence Cummings III started the run, while Meyer made a steal with 11:10 to go and scored on the ensuing offensive possession.
The game was locked 49-46 in favor of the Phoenix for nearly three minutes until a pair of Meyer free throws broke the game open again. Green Bay's lead grew to eight with just under two minutes to go. Forced to foul in the final minute, Phoenix players made all ten free throws they attempted in the final 60 seconds. That security blanket allowed GB to stave off nine points from the Roos in that same period, with a final score of 70-64.
GAME NOTES
» In addition to leading the team in points, Meyer led Green Bay in rebounds (7) and steals (2).
» GB scored a season-high 70 points in the victory.
» Six Phoenix players recorded at least one assist.
» Green Bay recorded a season-high seven blocks as a team.
» GB shot 52.5 percent from the field. It was the first time they shot over 50 percent since Jan. 20, 2022.
» The Phoenix led the game for the final 16 minutes and 9 seconds in the second half.
COMING UP
The Phoenix will travel to St. Thomas to face the Tommies, beginning a seven-game road trip. GB will also visit Stanford, Oregon State, Detroit Mercy, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Cleveland State. Green Bay's next home game is on January 12.
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