Phoenix bound for Indianapolis after win over Purdue Fort Wayne

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay men's basketball team is on to Indianapolis for the first time since the 2019-20 season after defeating No. 6-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne, 64-56, on Tuesday night at the Kress Center. Green Bay will await results from around the league tomorrow night to see its next opponent.

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The Phoenix (18-14) had three players score in double figures, led by Marcus Hall, who finished with 19 points. Justin Allen tacked on 13 points, and Preston Ruedinger helped out with 11 points and eight assists.

Green Bay did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 16 assists while turning the ball over just seven times. Ruedinger's eight assists led Green Bay individually.

Corey Hadnot II led Purdue Fort Wayne (17-15) with 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Deangelo Elisee added 14 points, and DeAndre Craig also helped out with 12 points.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DOUG GOTTLIEB AND MARCUS HALL

HOW IT HAPPENED
Green Bay started strong, going up 10-2 after a Hall three pointer with 15:47 left in the first half. The Phoenix built on that early lead all throughout the first half, with a Hall layup giving Green Bay a 34-19 lead with 1:10 to go. PFW got a big shot from beyond the arc from Hadnot to cut the Phoenix lead to 34-22 going into half.

The Mastodons continued to bounce back at the start of the second half, outscoring Green Bay 13-5 in the first seven minutes to cut Green Bay's lead to 39-35. The two teams traded baskets before Green Bay went on an 8-0 run after a Hall basket to increase their lead to 54-43 with 5:28 to go. The Mastodons once again responded with a 9-0 run of their own, after a Mikale Stevenson three pointer cut the Phoenix lead to 54-52 with just over two minutes to go. In the final two minutes, Green Bay was able to go a perfect 8-for-8 from the stripe to ice the game. Six of those eight free throws came from Ruedinger.

GAME NOTES
» The Phoenix put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 73 percent of made baskets.
» Purdue Fort Wayne outrebounded Green Bay 34-31, including 11-6 on the offensive boards.
» The Phoenix shot 46.8-percent from the field.
» Green Bay held the Mastodons to 40.4-percent shooting from the floor and 20.8-percent from beyond the arc.
» Green Bay is onto Indianapolis for the first time since 2019-20 and is in pursuit of its first Horizon League Tournament Championship since 2015-16.

ON THE HORIZON
As mentioned earlier, Green Bay will face an opponent TBD on Sunday or Monday in Indianapolis at the Corteva Coliseum.