Green Bay Defeats Illinois State 79-71 in Preseason Finale
The Green Bay men’s basketball team closed out its preseason preparations with a 79-71 home victory over Illinois State on Saturday. Five Phoenix players scored in double figures, led by Ne’quan Brown with 22 points and seven rebounds, greenbayphoenix.com reported. After building an early 18-5 lead in the first half, the visiting squad clawed back to tie the game multiple times before Green Bay pulled away late.
Green Bay Outside Shooting and Bench Depth Beat Redbirds
Green Bay shot 9-for-24 from three-point range and forced 14 turnovers while committing only nine. Brown paced the outside attack by hitting four shots from beyond the arc. Ahmere Carson contributed 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Isaiah Sutherland, Marcus Hall, and Orlando Lovejoy each chipped in 10 points. The Phoenix bench delivered 34 points. Green Bay held a 35-30 rebounding advantage and never trailed after halftime, securing the eight-point margin when Hall drained a three-pointer to push the lead to 68-59 with 2:22 remaining.
Johnny Kinziger Leads Illinois State Charge
Green Bay area native Johnny Kinziger led Illinois State with 14 points and five assists. The Redbirds converted 13-of-32 attempts from deep, matching Green Bay’s perimeter aggression and erasing a double-digit first-half deficit to tie the game early in the second half. Illinois State’s bench contributed 36 points, narrowly edging Green Bay’s reserves, but the Redbirds could not overcome late turnovers that translated into 10 points for the Phoenix.
Regular Season Opener Against Lawrence University
The Phoenix begin their 2026-27 regular season on Monday, November 2, by hosting Lawrence University at the Kress Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The matchup marks the official start of the regular season campaign for Green Bay following the conclusion of their exhibition schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Green Bay Phoenix Preseason Finale
Who led Green Bay in scoring against Illinois State?
Ne’quan Brown led the Phoenix with 22 points and seven rebounds in the 79-71 victory.
When does Green Bay play its next basketball game?
Green Bay opens its regular season on Monday, November 2, against Lawrence University at the Kress Center.
How many players scored in double figures for Green Bay?
Five Phoenix players reached double digits: Ne’quan Brown, Ahmere Carson, Isaiah Sutherland, Marcus Hall, and Orlando Lovejoy.