CLEVELAND, Ohio - All five starters reached double figures, but it wasn't enough for the Green Bay men's basketball team in an 82-77 loss to the Cleveland State Vikings on the road Saturday afternoon.
Zae Blake and Garren Davis paced the Phoenix (2-15, 1-5 HL) with 18 points. Blake added six assists, while Davis tallied three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Cade Meyer chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds, which led all players. Randy Tucker (11 points) and Clarence Cummings III (11 points) were the other two GB players to notch double figures.
Cleveland State (9-8, 4-2 HL) had two players score 20 or more points thanks to solid efforts from Drew Lowder (21 points) and Tristian Enaruna (20 points). Tae Williams filled the stat sheet with seven points, three assists (tied for most on the team), and a team-leading eight rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Green Bay jumped out to a 16-10 lead thanks to a barrage of threes. The Phoenix made four triples in the first 6:42 of the game, including two from Tucker. GB would cool off, and CSU would take advantage, pulling out to a 29-22 advantage with 5:14 to go in the opening half. Green Bay would tighten the deficit to four after Tucker dropped in a pair of free throws, making it 27-31 in the frame's final minute. A Williams free throw and driving layup by Lowder in the final moments extended Cleveland State's lead to seven at 34-27 headed to intermission.
The second half would provide next-level excitement as both squads put on a back-and-forth shooting clinic. The Phoenix opened up the half with a 15-8 run, tying the game at 42 after Cummings splashed a three with 14:38 remaining.
From there, neither team led by more than three for almost six minutes. It wasn't until Lowder made a jumper to put the Vikings ahead 59-55 with 8:55 left that the lead was more than three. However, Green Bay immediately responded and knotted the game at 59 with 7:42 left in the half after
Nate Jenkins joined in on the fun with a layup.
CSU started to pull away, extending their lead back out to eight at 71-63 with 5:10 remaining after Enaruna drove in the lane for a layup. Once again, the Phoenix had an answer, and this time it was Blake, who drilled a pair of free throws, capping a 9-4 run that cut the deficit to three at 75-72 with 1:10 to go. Despite last-minute heroics and the team's best offensive performance of the season, it wasn't enough, as CSU finished the game strong, sending GB home with an 82-77 loss.
GAME NOTES
» GB's 77 points is the highest scoring total of the season to date.
» The Phoenix shot well from deep, knocking down a season-high 11 treys in 24 attempts.
» Green Bay had a 31-28 rebounding advantage.
» Davis' 18 points are a season-high and marks the second time he's scored in double figures this season.
» Green Bay's 52.1 field goal percentage is the second-highest of the year.
» The Phoenix posted a 45.3 shooting percentage from beyond the arc, the best of the season.
COMING UP
Green Bay will return to Titletown for their first home game since December 10, when they welcome Wright State on Thursday, January 12 to the Resch Center on Fleet Farm Military Appreciation Night. The matchup against the Raiders marks the beginning of a four-game homestand.
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