The grueling nonconference schedule continues to battle test this Green Bay Phoenix team, as the Phoenix traveled to Columbus for another Power 5 opponent, this time playing Ohio State out of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes, powered by an offensive outburst in the second half, took down the Phoenix 102-69.
Ohio State, who is projected to finish in the upper half of the Big Ten, got the scoring started after the teams exchanged misses and turnovers for the first couple minutes of the game, when Meechie Johnson Jr hit the first of his five made threes in the game. The Buckeyes got the lead out to 8-2 before Green Bay would reel it in, narrowing the gap to a 12-11 score after an Anthony Roy three. Ohio State would build the lead back up to double digits, when Johnson hit another three-pointer to give the Buckeyes its biggest lead to that point of 31-19. Green Bay was able to reel in the gap throughout the remainder of the half, answering each run Ohio State had, with one of its own but going into halftime trailing 42-32 after Johnson splashed another three with 30 seconds left to close out scoring in the opening 20 minutes.
Ohio State started the second half just as strong, exchanging baskets and opening up the lead to as high 15 points when Coach Gottlieb called a timeout just 2 minutes into the half. The Phoenix then went on a 10-2 run powered by Anthony Roy and Mac Wrecke to cut the lead back to seven. Bruce Thornton made a layup, which was promptly followed by a Foster Wonders made 3 to cut the lead down to six. Unfortunately for Green Bay, that would be the closest they’d come in the contest. Ohio State went on several small runs through the half before a 20-1 run was broke up with a Foster Wonders free throw and Anthony Roy trey.
Despite the loss, Anthony Roy continued his run of offensive dominance, leading all scorers with 30 points on 8-12 from behind the arc. Roy was the only Phoenix with double digit point totals, the next closest was Wrecke who had eight while coming off the bench. On the other sideline, Ohio State had seven double digit scorers including a team high 25 from Bruce Thornton and 17 from Meechie Johnson Jr.
Green Bay returns home over the holiday weekend, with a game against the Campbell Camels, who also played and lost to Ohio State and Evansville in its last two games. Tip off is scheduled for Saturday, November 30th at 12 pm CT from the Resch Center.
