Short-handed Green Bay Phoenix men lose to Cleveland State

Green Bay which was down 3 starters had four players score in double figures, led by Yonatan Levy, who poured in a career-high 19 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Ben Tweedy added a career-high 12 points off the bench while Foster Wonders and Preston Ruedinger finished with 10 apiece.

Cleveland State also spread the ball around, finishing the day with five in double figures led by 17 points from Chase Robinson. Tevin Smith finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

After trading baskets early, the Phoenix took a slight advantage after a 7-0 run concluded in a Wonders three with 8:38 in the first half gave Green Bay a 17-13 lead. Cleveland State hit back over the next six minutes, outscoring the Phoenix 18-7 to take a 31-24 lead. However, the Phoenix again went on a run, this time a 9-0 run with 2:14 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Preston Ruedinger, to take a 33-31 lead. The Phoenix then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down slightly, 34-33.

Although the Green & White wasn’t able to wrestle back the lead from the Vikings in the second half, they battled with CSU, pulling to within two after a Levy layup with 5:38 in the game made it 64-62 Vikings. However, the league-leading Vikings would not be denied their 12th-straight win, as they outscored GB 17-4 in the game’s final five minutes.

» CSU won the battle of the boards, 42-28.

» Both teams finished with 22 bench points.

» GB outscored CSU 30-26 in the painted area.

» There were six ties and six lead changes Saturday afternoon.

GB will continue its road trip next week when they head to the Detroit area to take on Oakland on Thursday at 6 p.m. followed by Detroit Mercy on Saturday at noon.