Phoenix catches fire from deep and takes down Northern Kentucky

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay men's basketball team shot 52.6% from three-point range on the way to an 80-78 win over the Northern Kentucky Norse at home Sunday. The Phoenix was on fire in the first half, shooting 70.4% from the floor and 80% from three. Green Bay has now won four straight games for the first time this season.

The Phoenix (10-8, 5-2) had three players score in double figures, led by Justin Allen, who had 27 points. Caden Wilkins  added 17 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting, and Marcus Hall  helped out with 13 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.

Green Bay shared the ball well in Sunday's game, racking up 20 assists on 30 made field goals. Hall's nine assists led the Phoenix, and Preston Ruedinger  also added seven assists of his own.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH GOTTLIEB AND CADEN WILKINS

HOW IT HAPPENED
Green Bay started out the scoring by going on a 7-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Allen, to take an early lead with 18:05 left in the first half. The Phoenix then added nine points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 51-35 advantage. Green Bay relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down eight shots to account for 24 of its 51 points. Wilkins scored all 17 of his points in the first half of the game.

Green Bay kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by C.J. O'Hara's  layup, to grow the lead to 56-37 with 18:19 to go in the contest. However, Donovan Oday and the Norse battled back. After chipping away at the Phoenix lead, the Norse hit three straight threes to go from a 13-point deficit to just four with 4:47 to go. However, the Phoenix held on, with a Kael Robinson three rattling out with just seconds remaining.

GAME NOTES
» The Phoenix made over half of their attempts from three-point range, knocking down 10 of 19 shots.
» Green Bay never trailed.

» Green Bay tallied 20 total assists in the game.
» Green Bay had a 34-25 edge on the boards.
» Green Bay turned the ball over nine times while dishing out 20 assists.
» Justin Allen  led the Phoenix with 27 points, his sixth twenty-point game of the season
» Green Bay's four-game win streak is the first since the 2023-24 season.
» Green Bay's win over Northern Kentucky snaps a nine-game Norse win streak over the Phoenix.

COMING UP
Green Bay will hit the road this week at Cleveland State on Thursday before returning home on Sunday to host Oakland on Sunday at 1 p.m. CST.