Green Bay defeats N Kentucky 80-78

Green Bay Stuns Kentucky with Thrilling 80-78 Victory

In a heart-stopping conference matchup, the Green Bay Phoenix (H) edged out the visiting Kentucky Wildcats (A) 80-78 at the Resch Center on Tuesday night. The home team's victory marked a rare win for Green Bay over a top-tier opponent.

The game was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant lead until late in the fourth quarter. At halftime, Green Bay held a slim 51-29 advantage, but Kentucky fought back in the second half to cut the deficit to just two points.

In the end, it was Green Bay's superior defense that proved decisive, as they limited Kentucky's high-powered offense to just 45% shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the Phoenix's balanced attack allowed them to control the tempo and outscore their opponents in key areas such as free throws (67.0% vs. 34.5%) and fast break points (7-27).

Justin Allen led the Green Bay charge with a career-high 27 points, including 2-6 from beyond the arc at a clip of 58.8%. Marcus Hall added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists to round out the top performance for Green Bay.

For Kentucky, Donovan Oday paced the Wildcats with 31 points on 66.7% shooting from the field, but his team struggled to find consistency in other areas. LJ Wells chipped in with 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Ethan Elliott contributed 11 points and 7 assists.

The Green Bay victory marked a rare win for the Phoenix over a top-tier opponent, as they have struggled against high-level opponents in recent years. This result will undoubtedly boost the team's confidence heading into its next conference matchup.

Final Statistics:

* Green Bay (H): 30/52 FG, 20/33 2PT, 10/19 3PT, 10/15 FT

* N Kentucky (A): 26/58 FG, 16/32 2PT, 10/26 3PT, 16/20 FT

Game Leaders:

* Green Bay:

+ Justin Allen - 27 points, 2-6 3PT, 58.8% FG

+ Marcus Hall - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists

* N Kentucky:

+ Donovan Oday - 31 points, 4-6 3PT, 66.7% FG

+ LJ Wells - 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists