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Tillema Helps Green Bay Remains Perfect at Home in 86-75 Win
Dec. 22, 2007
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Behind a career-high 33 points from Ryan Tillema, Green Bay won its 11th straight game over former conference mate Northern Illinois by virtue of an 86-75 final Saturday afternoon at the Resch Center. The Phoenix now owns a 24-5 all-time mark against the Huskies and has won 21 of the past 22 meetings. In addition, Green Bay kept its home record clean on the year, improving to 4-0 in Titletown. The Phoenix has won 11 straight non-conference home games. Green Bay turned a tight game into a double-digit victory with strong play over the final 24 minutes. The Phoenix trailed 26-18 with 6:36 left in the first half before mounting an 11-0 run. Bryquis Perine gave Green Bay its first lead, 27-26, at the 4-minute mark on a 3-pointer from the right corner. Tillema had a flurry of points late in the stanza, scoring eight in the final 1:25. It was capped by a deep 3-pointer from the left wing just 2 seconds before the horn that gave the home team a six-point halftime lead at 37-31. The Phoenix took its first double-digit lead on a highlight reel, two-handed slam by Terry Evans, who received the ball off the glass from Rahmon Fletcher with 7:54 left to play in the game. Green Bay finished 28-of-33 (.848) from the free throw line and had 20 assists to just 12 turnovers. Fletcher finished with a career-best nine assists. Tillema's previous career high was 23 in February of 2006. It was the first 30-point game by a Phoenix player since Mike Schachtner had 31 against Cleveland State and was the most since Schachtner had 36 versus Chicago State last December. For the afternoon, Tillema was 8-for-13 from the field, 5-of-10 from 3-point range and 12-for-14 from the charity stripe. He also tied for the team lead with eight rebounds. Schachtner, the league's leading scorer, totaled 18 points Saturday, while Terry Evans chipped in with 10. Green Bay is next in action Saturday, Dec. 29 at Michigan State. Game time is set for 4 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (CT) and the contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network. It is the fifth road game in a six-game span for the Phoenix. --www.uwgbathletics.com-- |
