GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team will host Cleveland State tomorrow at the Resch Center in their Horizon League home opener on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Saturday's gameday sponsor is Belmark, and the first 500 fans will receive 4imprint and Phoenix co-branded blankets.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Green Bay Phoenix (2-7, 0-1 HL) vs. Cleveland State Vikings (4-6, 0-1 HL)
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Tickets
2:00 PM CST | Game Notes | History
Follow the action: Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (Mixlr) | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State dropped their Horizon League opener on the road at Milwaukee on Thursday, 79-67. Cleveland State trailed by two with under three minutes to go and the Panthers closed the game on a 10-0 run to push the lead to double digits in the game's final seconds.
 
The Vikings are led by Tevin Smith, who leads the squad with 12.2 points per game as well as 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Dylan Arnett leads CSU in rebounds per game with 7.8 as well as scoring 9.1 points per game with a team-best 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field. Tahj Staveskie averages 10.0 points per game, as well as leading the Vikings in minutes with 30.7 per game.
 
Something to keep an eye on during Saturday's game is turnovers. The Vikings have forced their opponents to commit 16.8 turnovers per game, which is the 16^th-most in the nation.
 
ROY RETURNS
After a stint at NAIA Langston University, where he was named an NAIA All-American First Teamer, Anthony Roy has returned to the Division I floor with Green Bay. After nine games back in Division I, Roy has averaged 28.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He is also shooting 51.6 percent from the floor and 45.0 percent from three. Roy is sending waves throughout the country, simultaneously leading all NCAA DI players in points per game and in three-pointers made per game with 5.0, as well as leading the nation in three-point attempts per game with 11.1. Roy has scored 30+ points in five out of the last seven games.
 
WONDERS AT WORK
Redshirt junior Foster Wonders had his best game of the Season this Wednesday at IU Indy. In 31 minutes, he finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Wonders shot 4-for-8 from the field and 3-for-6 from three point range. Wonders averages 7.6 points per game and has scored in double figures four times.
 
MONEY MARCUS
After a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection a season ago, Phoenix forward Marcus Hall has been outstanding to start the 2024-25 season. Hall is currently averaging 13.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 34.0 percent from three-point range.
 
LET IT FLY
The Phoenix offense is predicated in large part on the three-ball. Green Bay is T-23rd in the country in three-point attempts with 29.9 and is 29th in the country in three-point makes per game with 10.2.
 
FREE POINTS
Green Bay has made their chances at the free throw line count. GB is knocking down 80.1 percent from the line, which ranks 15th best in the NCAA.
 
INTERNATIONAL TALENT
The 2024-25 Phoenix roster features players from three foreign countries and eight different U.S. states. Ben Tweedy is from Australia, Roee Oselka is from Israel, and Mouhamadou Cisse is from Senegal.
 
TOP 10 TURNAROUND
After a program-low 3-29 season in 2022-23, Green Bay bounced back with a resilient 18-14 record a season ago in head coach Sundance Wicks' lone season with the Phoenix, jumping from last in the Horizon League to third. That 15.0 game turnaround is tied for the 10th-best turnaround in NCAA Division I history.
 
NEW LOOK ROSTER
The Phoenix underwent a roster transformation this past off-season. Of GB's rostered players, five are returners, five are transfers, and eight are incoming freshmen.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Multiple returners will play large roles in the upcoming 2024-25 season, including Foster Wonders, Preston Ruedinger, and Marcus Hall. Last season, Ruedinger averaged 8.4, Wonders averaged 7.8, and Hall averaged 6.4 points per game. Mac Wrecke and Ryan Wade are the other two returners and will be featured in Coach Gottlieb's rotation.
 
OFFSEASON RECAP
A lot happened during the 2024 offseason. Let's get you caught up:
 
May 12 – Sundance Wicks named Wyoming head men's basketball coach
May 14 - Doug Gottlieb is named the 10th head coach in Green Bay men's basketball history.
June 6 – The rest of the coaching staff is announced, consisting of Aerick Sanders, Damon Archibald, Dennis Harrington, and Kaden LeCapitaine, joining Jordan McCabe.
 
Over the summer - The Phoenix brings in eight freshmen for the 2024-25 season: Ayden Goll, Jeremiah Johnson, Ben Tweedy, Bennett Basich, C.J. O'Hara, Brady Fitzgerald, Caden Wilkens, and Roee Oselka. Five transfers make their way to Green Bay this season including, Donovan Santoro, Anthony Roy, Muodubem Muoneke, Isaiah Miranda, and Mouhamadou Cisse.
 
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
PL. TEAM (1st PLACE VOTES) – PTS.
T1. Milwaukee (15) – 421
T1. Purdue Fort Wayne (14) – 421
3. Northern Kentucky (4) – 389
4. Oakland (5) – 345
5. Wright State (4) – 315
6. Youngstown State (1) – 272
7. Cleveland State – 252
8. Green Bay – 171
9. Robert Morris – 148
10. IU Indianapolis (1) – 91
11. Detroit Mercy – 79
 
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