ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Green Bay Men's Basketball team picked up its second consecutive win, defeating Iona 80-75 and earning a fourth-place finish at Paradise Jam on Monday afternoon.
The Phoenix (3-5) had four players score in double figures, led by Justin Allen, who had a season-high 28 points after 27 last time out. Fresh off a Horizon League Player of the Week award, C.J. O'Hara added 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Mac Wrecke helped out with 14 points off the bench. Caden Wilkins had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Green Bay did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 14 assists, while only turning the ball over five times. Preston Ruedinger led the Phoenix in assists with seven.
Iona had five players score in double figures, led by 14 points from Lamin Sabally, who also collected 10 rebounds. Toby Harris was right behind him with 13 points in 24 minutes.
HEAD COACH DOUG GOTTLIEB
"Wow, what a tournament for our young men," Gottlieb said. "Marcus Hall couldn't go again tonight, but in his stead Justin Allen once again carried us offensively with 28 points. Mack Wreckie was outstanding off the Bench with 15 points, C.J. O'Hara was a terror at both ends and Preston Ruedinger made three huge threes to get us back on track after falling behind early. The Paradise Jam was a great event for our guys to bond, win two games, nearly take down the best team in the IVY league and get some sun, as it is in fact Paradise! From the Ashes, together, we rise!"
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 17-11, Green Bay went on a 10-0 run with 12:55 left in the first half, after a Ruedinger three, to take a 21-17 lead. Iona took the lead right back, going on an 8-0 run of their own to go up 31-27 with 2:24 to go in the half. That lead stayed intact for the most part the remainder of the half before Mac Wrecke made a three in the final minute, cutting it to 36-33 heading into the locker room.
Iona started the second half strong, scoring the first five points of the frame to build a 41-33 lead. However, the Phoenix responded with an 8-0 run capped off by a Wilkins' three at the 17:31 mark. Both teams traded baskets until Allen scored eight consecutive points, giving the Phoenix a 63-56 advantage with six minutes to go. Iona cut into Green Bay's lead in the final minutes, eventually to 74-73 with 1:03 left. However, the Phoenix locked down defensively and sank 6-of-8 free throws in the final 40 seconds to secure the 80-75 win.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay made 10 three-pointers compared to Iona's 11.
» Allen and Wrecke came off the bench to score 28 and 14 points, respectively.
» Iona outrebounded Green Bay 42-39, but the Phoenix had 13 offensive rebounds to the Gaels' 12.
» Green Bay shot an efficient 20-of-26 from the free throw line.
» The Phoenix scored 80 points despite shooting just 39.1-percent from the floor and 35.7 percent from three.
» Across three games in the Virgin Islands, Allen averaged 21.0 points per game.
COMING UP
Green Bay returns home on Saturday, November 29, to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, taking on Haskell Indian Nations at the Kress Center at 1 p.m. CST.
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