GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team dropped their first home game of the season Saturday night against Western Illinois, 68-59. The Leathernecks grabbed a 6-5 lead with 16:52 left in the first half and would never trail again.
The Phoenix (4-6) had three players score in double figures, led by Noah Reynolds, who finished with 14 points and two steals. David Douglas Jr. and Clarence Cummings III were the other two in double figures, each adding 11 points off the Phoenix bench. Elijah Jones ended the night with nine points and seven rebounds.
Western Illinois outshot the Phoenix, finishing the night 28-of-50 (56.0 percent) from the floor, while GB was 21-of-60 (35.0 percent). WIU also shot 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from deep, while GB went 7-for-36 (19.4 percent).
Western Illinois had four in double figures, led by 18 points each from Ryan Myers and Jesiah West.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The visitors jumped out in front early, 12-7, after a made layup from Leathernecks big man Drew Cisse with 15:30 left in the half. WIU maintained and extended that lead at 32-25 before Green Bay went on a 7-0 run with 3:27 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Douglas Jr., to tie the game at 32. Western Illinois closed the half out with a Myers three to take a 35-32 lead into the break.
A pair of Cisse baskets right out of the halftime break gave the Leathernecks a seven-point lead at 39-32 with 18:10 remaining in the ballgame. Green Bay then cut the lead down to three at 39-36 after a basket from Cummings. However, WIU responded and gradually built their lead up to 15 at 68-53. That lead held as GB fell 68-59.
GAME NOTES
» The Green Bay bench outscored WIU, 28-5.
» The Leathernecks outrebounded the Phoenix 36-29.
» The Green Bay defense forced 13 turnovers while committing just six of their own.
» Western Illinois was strong in the interior, outscoring Green Bay 38-26 in the paint.
» Reynolds has scored in double figures four straight games and nine out of the 10 games this year.
» Saturday night was the first time an opponent has shot over 50.0 percent against the Phoenix this season.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will hit the road for a pair of games next week, starting with a trip to UIC on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip. Following, the Phoenix will travel to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners on Saturday at 8 p.m.
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