GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay shot 65 percent in the second half and never let the Milwaukee basketball team to get closer than five points after halftime, pulling away for a 90-74 victory Friday night at the Kress Center.
 
The Panthers (9-14, 4-6 Horizon League) shot close to 50 percent on the night, but could not get enough stops when needed to keep the Phoenix (11-12, 5-5 Horizon League) from completing the season sweep.
 
Darius Roy and Bryce Barnes led the way with 18 points apiece. Barnes' season-high point total included a 5-of-8 showing from the floor and five assists. Roy added five boards and five assists.
 
Jake Wright finished with 17 points, sinking five three-pointers.
 
"Not one of our better defensive efforts," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "If you shoot close to 50 percent from the field, I would take that any day. But to give up close to 60 percent … it wasn't a good night defensively for us."
 
MKE finished at 48.1 percent (25-of-52) from the field, but connected on just 56 percent (14-of-25) of its free throws. Green Bay finished at 56.9 percent (37-of-65) overall after the hot shooting following the break.
 
"I think what set the tone for us was missing those free throws early," Baldwin said. "We got to the foul line, which we wanted to do, and just could not capitalize on it.
 
Cody Schwartz led four Phoenix players in double-figures, scoring 18 points all on 3's.
 
"There were a lot of missed opportunities, especially at the foul line," Baldwin said. "And then to give the ball back to them where they converted on the other end in transition."
 
The first scoring play of the second half – a three-pointer by Roy – cut the deficit back to five at 41-36. The margin was quickly 10 at 46-36 before the Panthers tried to claw back.
 
A three by Wright put Milwaukee back within five once more at 49-44. That was as close as it would get.
 
The teams traded baskets for a spell, with Green Bay sinking a 3 to extend the lead to 60-48 before building it slowly to 15 at 77-62 with four minutes to play.
 
Milwaukee shot over 50 percent (12-of-23) in the first half but was uncharacteristically plagued by turnovers (10) and missed free throws (2-for-10) and trailed by as many as 13 in the period.
 
It was a half of scoring spurts, the first of which have Green Bay the 12-5 lead after scoring eight in a row.
 
Down 15-7, a Wright 3 cut it to 15-12, only to see the Phoenix lead go right back to seven. Wright kept it up from long-range, with his triples trimming margins to three at 21-18 and then down to just two at 23-21 at the 8:29 mark.
 
GB had an answer, with Schwartz hitting his fourth three-pointer of the period to cap a 10-0 run and extend the lead to 37-24. A steal and coast-to-coast layup marked six straight for Milwaukee to get within seven, and Barnes' three with seconds left provided the halftime margin.
 
Up next, the Panthers close out the five-game road trip with a swing through Ohio to play Youngstown State and Cleveland State. First stop is against the Penguins Thursday, set to tip at 6 p.m. CST.