For one reason or another, the powers that be in the media and sports books continue to sleep on the resurgent Green Bay Phoenix. This has been a mistake for most of the season, tonight was no different. Despite entering the game as 2.5-point underdog, the Phoenix were able to down the Robert Morris Colonials 81-76 in an overtime win.
The Phoenix opened up the scoring on the opening possession on a Rich Byhre 3-pointer, and kept the foot on the gas through the entire first half. Green Bay would lead by as much as 12 through the opening 20 minutes, led by Noah Reynolds dropping 18 first half points. Robert Morris would cut into the lead and bring the game as close as three points, doing so by forcing seven Phoenix turnovers, and grabbing five offensive rebounds. However, Green Bay would take the momentum into the break after a Reynolds floater gave the Phoenix a 32-27 lead.
Robert Morris battled back though. Behind red hot shooting and dominating the paint the Colonials clawed back to tie the game several times in regulation. Green Bay had a chance to win at the buzzer but it was a Reynolds missed jumper, followed by Foster Wonders missing a putback attempt, that kept the game tied, requiring the extra period. Robert Morris grabbed its first lead of the game with the first bucket of overtime. Green Bay charged back and after trading baskets, got out to a 74-70 lead in the final minute of OT. The Colonials would try to extend the game by fouling Green Bay, but the Phoenix were able to close it out with made free throws.
In the end, Green Bay outshooting the Colonials from the charity stripe, 29-35 (84.8%) for Green Bay compared to 17-24 (70.8%). Reynolds continued his quest for Horizon League Player of the Year, leading all scorers with 32 points. Preston Ruedinger, Elijah Jones, and Clarence Cummings all chipped in double digit scoring efforts for the Phoenix, with 16, 12, and 10 points respectively.
After the game, assistant coach Nic Reynolds added, “Someone put him on the spot before the exhibition game against St Norbert’s, and in typical Sunny fashion says 16 wins. 16 wins matches the total win number of the past coaching staff.”
Green Bay battles for Horizon League supremacy Saturday afternoon, traveling to the Beeghly Center for its first matchup against the Youngstown State Penguins. Tip off is set for 12:30 PM CT.
