Keifer Sykes
The UW-Green Bay Phoenix opened their 2014-15 season with a 78-56 win over division-3 Ripon College in exhibition play at the Resch Center on Thursday night.
Senior guard Keifer Sykes scored all 16 of his points in the second half and added 10 assists and five rebounds.
Ripon College kept it close in the first half and only trailed 31-26 at halftime. But the Phoenix dialed up the defense in the second half, holding Ripon to just 10 of 29 from the field and 3 of 15 from three-point range.
Green Bay had three other players in double figures, Greg Mays (12 pts), Carrington Love (11 pts) and Alfonzo McKinnie (10 pts).
The Phoenix outscored Ripon College 38-18 in the paint, had a 22-6 edge in 2nd chance points and had a 31-12 advantage in bench scoring.
Kyle Loughrin had 24 points to lead all scorers for Ripon College. Ty Sabin added 13 points.
Green Bay now takes two weeks off. They’ll officially open the 2014-15 season on Saturday, Nov. 15, hosting Illinois-Springfield at 3pm.