In a heavyweight battle between the top two teams in the Horizon League, Green Bay came into Saturday’s contest without top scorer and catalyst to the offense Noah Reynolds. As the Phoenix have done all year, the rest of the squad was able to step up and rise to the occasion, as Green Bay went into the Beeghly Center and took down Youngstown State, 84-83.
The Penguins came out punching, starting the game on a 7-0 run before the Phoenix went on a run of their own, grabbing a 12-7 lead. Green Bay would answer each run, as Marcus Hall paced the Phoenix with 11 first-half points. However, Youngstown State went into the half with a 42-38 lead.
YSU was able to build on their lead in the second half, building it up to as much as 8 points before the Phoenix came storming back. Preston Ruedinger lead the Green Bay surge scoring 19 of his team-high 26 points in the second half. The teams traded leads late, due in part to Green Bay’s three-point shooting (14-29, 48.3%) and Youngstown State’s incredible 22-of-24 shooting from the free throw line. However, a DJ Burns missed free throw with 13 seconds left set up the late heroics for Green Bay.
David Douglas, Jr. tried to tie the game but was blocked, as the ball went out of bounds with just over five seconds left. Wicks drew up an inbound played during the clock review with the ball inbounded to Douglas near the free throw line, with Foster Wonders curling behind the arc, receiving the pass and splashing the eventual game winning 3 pointer to give Green Bay an 84-83 lead with just 2.1 seconds left. The Penguins tried to set up a final shot but missed the half court prayer for the win.
Ruedinger led the Phoenix with a career high 26 points for the redshirt sophomore guard. Douglas, Hall, and the heroic Wonders all also chipped in double-digit scoring performances with 16, 13, and 10 points respectively.
Green Bay returns home for a Valentine’s Day showdown against Northern Kentucky at Resch Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6pm CT.
