Men's Basketball Scoreboard (Dec. 27)
Green Bay 78, Georgia State 61
#15/15 Maryland 72, Oakland 56
#21/18 Ohio State 100, Wright State 55
Green Bay 78, Georgia State 61
Continuing a trend under head coach Brian Wardle, Green Bay (10-3) bounced back in a big way on Saturday afternoon in front of a big crowd at the Resch Center. The Phoenix has not lost back-to-back regular season games in nearly two years, and thanks to a career performance from junior Carrington Love (Milwaukee, Wis.) and a 21-3 run to end the game, it stayed that way as Green Bay dispatched visiting Georgia State (7-4) 78-61 in a matchup of two of the nation’s best mid-major programs.
Green Bay entered at No. 4 and Georgia State No. 12 in the College Insider Top-25 poll, but it was the Panthers that had early bragging rights this season thanks to a 72-48 win in Atlanta on Dec. 4. Early on, Georgia State had a double-digit lead (29-18), but the Phoenix responded, much to the pleasure of 4,267 fans.
Love played a major factor in the big turnaround offensively and defensively, both on Saturday afternoon and from the first meeting. The junior guard made 10-of-14 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from long range, en route to a career-high 28 points.
He had only two points in Atlanta when senior Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) was the lone player in double figures. Love has since reached double figures in six-straight games, averaging 16.8 points on 52.1 percent shooting.
Sykes had plenty of help on Saturday, including on the defensive end. Georgia State stars R.J. Hunter and Ryan Harrow combined for 33 points, but the duo took 37 shots (14-37) from the field and was only 1-of-9 from long range. Harrow was 0-of-7 and scoreless after a first half in which he scored 14 points and helped stake GSU to a 37-35 lead.
Green Bay jumped out early in the second half and pushed a lead to as many as 49-42 and 57-51 with 8:17 to play, but the Panthers rallied with seven-straight points for a 58-57 lead at the 5:59 mark.
It was all Phoenix from there, with Love scoring eight points, freshman Daeshon Francis (Indianapolis, Ind.) tallying six and Sykes adding four during a 21-3 run to end the game.
While the Green Bay starting backcourt was scoring 41 points (Sykes: 13 points, 6 assists, 3 steals), it was also getting double-figure efforts from junior Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.) and Alfonzo McKinnie (Chicago, Ill.). Fouse stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals while McKinnie totaled 11 points and six rebounds in his first start in a Phoenix uniform.
Green Bay has now won 14-straight games following a loss in the regular season, dating back to Jan. 5, 2012.
#15/15 Maryland 72, Oakland 56
The Golden Grizzlies got within seven late in second half but lost to No. 15 Maryland 72-56 on Saturday.
Jalen Hayes scored 13 points and Kahlil Felder added 12 for Oakland (4-10). Dante Williams and Corey Petros each scored 11 for the Golden Grizzlies, who lost five consecutive games.
Jake Layman had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 15 Maryland extend its winning streak to five games.
Dez Wells, who was the Terrapins' leading scorer over the past two seasons, was back in the lineup after missing the past seven games with a fractured right wrist. Wells came off the bench and finished with 10 points.
Freshman Melo Trimble was 5 of 6 from 3-point range and had 17 points for Maryland (12-1). It was Terps final non-conference game before their Big 10 opener Tuesday against Michigan State.
A pair of 3-pointers by Dion Wiley and Trimble gave Maryland a 19-8 lead midway through the first half. After missing 10 of their opening 14 field goal attempts, the Golden Grizzlies settled down and a jumper by Felder cut the margin to six with 7:23 left.
Maryland answered with an 18-4 run and led 39-19 at halftime. Layman and Trimble each scored 11 points and the Terps limited Oakland to 8 of 29 (27.6 percent) from the field.
Maryland stayed in control and a jumper by Wells provided a 46-32 margin with 14:07 remaining. Oakland played better offensively in the second half and a layup by Hayes cut the lead to 56-47 with 7:46 left.
Trimble responded with another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Wells then dunked over a pair Oakland defenders and then his layup increased the margin to 67-56 with just under three minutes remaining and the Terps were never threatened again.
The Golden Grizzlies have struggled with turnovers, averaging 13.5 this season. They had 11 on Saturday.
Terrapins guard/forward Dez Wells entered the game with 14:13 left in the first half and showed no ill-effects from the fractured right wrist that forced him to miss the past five weeks. The Terps had won six of seven games without Wells, but his presence was a boost to the lineup with his ability to set the offense and create shots. Wells scored 10 points in 22 minutes.
#21/18 Ohio State 100, Wright State 55
