Playing without leading scorer Marcus Hall, the Green Bay Phoenix leaned on two major contributors, C.J. O’Hara and Justin Allen, to knock off Massachusetts 79–75 on Saturday at the Paradise Jam.
Green Bay, a team that has struggled to close out tight games this season, flipped the script behind efficient offense and vastly improved free-throw shooting. The Phoenix shot 80% from the line (28-35), a major step forward after multiple games where missed free throws were the difference.
Allen delivered a massive spark off the bench, scoring 27 points on 7-13 shooting and a perfect 12-12 at the stripe. O’Hara, steady all season, added 21 points on an efficient 7-11 from the field while logging heavy minutes once again.
Green Bay took control at 15-13 and never gave the lead back. A big 10-0 run pushed the advantage to double digits, and the Phoenix entered halftime up 33-25. UMass made several pushes in the second half, but UWGB’s composure, free-throw consistency, and low-turnover finish closed the door.
Green Bay shot 49% from the field and protected the ball far better than in previous outings, helping them secure their second win of the tournament.
The Phoenix now await their final opponent in the fourth-place game. They will face the winner of Iona vs. Oregon State on Monday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. CST.
