GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team's winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night as Northern Kentucky downed the Phoenix, 58-57. GB had the ball and a chance to win it at the death, but Noah Reynolds' attempt at the buzzer was no good.
The Phoenix (17-10, 12-4) had two players score in double figures, led by Reynolds, who had 18 points and four assists in his return to the Phoenix lineup. Preston Ruedinger tacked on 10 points and Elijah Jones added three points and 14 rebounds.
Both defenses came to play Wednesday, with GB finishing 35.2 percent from the floor and NKU finishing at 37.7 percent. The Norse shot 27.3 percent from three, and GB finished 21.9 percent from deep.
The Norse had three players in double figures, led by LJ Wells 13 points and nine rebounds. Keeyan Itejere had 12 points, while Randall Pettus II finished with 10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 24-16, Green Bay went on a 6-0 run with 3:19 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Reynolds, to narrow its deficit to 24-22. Northern Kentucky held onto that lead the rest of the way, taking a 27-24 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
Green Bay came out hot to start the second half, starting on a 10-4 run to take a 34-31 lead after a Rich Byhre made three with 17:24 to go in the second half. NKU responded shortly after, with a 14-7 run of their own to take a 45-41 advantage before Green Bay again responded with a 7-0 run, finished off by Foster Wonders' three, to seize a 48-45 lead with 7:42 to go. The two team traded baskets for the rest of the game, with the last bucket coming from NKU's Marques Warrick, who banked in an off-hand runner from the right block with five seconds in the game. GB's final attempt was no good, and the Norse escaped with the road victory.
GAME NOTES
» NKU outscored GB in the paint, 28-18.
» The Green Bay bench outscored NKU 35-12.
» There were 12 lead changes and seven ties in Wednesday's game.
» Jones finished with his second-most rebounds in a game with 14.
» Green Bay is still tied for first place in the Horizon League with Oakland at 12-4 in the league.
» The two teams tied with 35 rebounds on the night.
ON THE HORIZON
Green Bay will close out the home schedule next week when they host Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday at 6 p.m., and Youngstown State on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both games will take place at the Kress Center.
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