INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Green Bay Phoenix (10-5, 3-1) dropped its first game of the Horizon League season on New Year's Eve, falling to preseason conference favorite Butler (9-4, 2-0) by a 72-49 final at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs were ranked 23rd nationally in the ESPN Coaches Poll.
Butler used a 12-2 run to start the second half to put the game out of reach for Green Bay, which trailed by just eight, 35-27, at intermission. The Phoenix played without leading scorer Rahmon Fletcher (Kansas City, Mo.) and top reserve Cordero Barkley (Racine, Wis.) due to injuries.
Freshman Rian Pearson (Raytown, Mo.) was the top scorer for Green Bay, tallying a career-high 11 points in his first collegiate start. Fellow freshman Seth Evans (Seneca, Ill.) joined him in double figures (10).
Butler enjoyed a 39-22 advantage on the boards and limited the Phoenix to 35.4 percent shooting, its second-lowest percentage of the season. Green Bay attempted just seven 3-pointers on the evening, making four.
Green Bay continues play Saturday night at Valparaiso. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised live in Green Bay on WACY (MYNEW32).
--www.GreenBayPhoenix.com--
