BracketBusters Game Goes to Western Michigan, 74-67

Evans scores 16 points, becomes all-time blocked shot leader in loss

On Saturday, Terry Evans became the school's career blocked shots leader.

Feb. 23, 2008

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay men's basketball team (13-14) couldn't withstand a second half charge by Western Michigan in a 74-67 in Saturday night's BracketBusters contest at the Resch Center. The loss snapped an 11-game non-conference home winning streak for the Phoenix.

Western Michigan (16-10) used free throws and offensive rebounding to outscore the Phoenix 47-36 in the second half. The Broncos converted 19 of 23 free throws in the second half, and shot 83.9 percent for the game from the line going 26-for-31. Green Bay was also outrebounded by 10, and the Broncos outscored the Phoenix 17-10 on second-chance points.

Terry Evans led the way for the Phoenix by matching a career high with 16 points. It was the seventh time this season that he hit for 16 points. Evans also became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots with No. 113. Ryan Tillema chipped in 13 points for the Phoenix who fell to 1-4 all-time in BracketBuster games.

In the first half, Green Bay used tough defense to take a 31-27 led into the break. The Phoenix held Western Michigan to just 8 of 22 shooting (36.4 percent) and forced the Broncos into 13 turnovers.

Evans provided a spark in a tightly contested first half when he converted on a put-back dunk off a Cordero Barkley miss. On the next possession, he intercepted a Bronco pass for a fast-break jam to give the Phoenix a 19-14 lead with just over six minutes remaining. Evans went on to pace Green Bay with eight first-half points.

Despite the Broncos' poor shooting, they were able to keep the game close by making four first-half 3-pointers to none for the Phoenix.

The Broncos came out firing in the second half behind leading scorer Joe Reitz. Green Bay held Reitz to three first-half points, but he quickly brought Western Michigan back into the game scoring 13 in the second half. The lead swayed between teams, changing 13 times throughout the entire second half.

Green Bay made six of its first seven shots after intermission, with Tillema scoring nine of his 13 points in the second stanza.

Western Michigan took the lead for good on a Kool jumper with just under six minutes remaining that put the Broncos up 56-54. Kool led the way for the Broncos by scoring 19 points, followed closely by Reitz's 16 points and eight rebounds.

Green Bay is next in action Thursday at the Resch Center against UIC. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. (CT).

--www.uwgbathletics.com--