By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Aaron Armstead (Chicago, Ill.) and Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) did something Saturday afternoon that had not been done by two Green Bay freshmen in nearly six seasons. Led by Armstead's 19 points in a breakout game, the young duo combined for 36 points in a 90-87 loss at Valparaiso.

The last time two Phoenix freshmen had a game like that was on Feb. 25, 2006, when Ryan Tillema (23) and Mike Schactner (14) combined for 37 points at Cleveland State.

For Armstead, at least on paper, it was a shocking performance. The 6-foot-4 guard entered Saturday just 4-of-23 from long range and 2-of-7 from the free throw line before making 5-of-6 three-pointers and all four of his free throws to best his previous high scoring game by 12.

Armstead scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, when he went 4-of-4 from long range and 4-of-4 from the line and led a Phoenix comeback attempt. He became the first Phoenix player to hit five three-pointers since Rahmon Fletcher made five on Dec. 22, 2010 at Wyoming. He added three steals.

"He did the little things, too," head coach Brian Wardle said of Armstead. "He was blocking out, he was getting steals and he played great. That is why we recruited him. He can make shots, and he was a shot maker out there today. He played with confidence, and it was great to see that."

Sykes' 17-point contest was impressive but not as surprising. The 5-foot-10 guard has been increasingly more aggressive of late, and carried that over by making 7-of-10 shots against the Crusaders. He also bounced back after missing all four of his free throws in Thursday's loss at Butler to knock down 3-of-4 from the stripe on Saturday.

One of if not the youngest player in the country, Sykes celebrated his 18th birthday on Friday. On Saturday, with Armstead and the rest of his teammates making a season-high 12 three-pointers, he dished out a career-best seven assists and had just two turnovers.

With 2011 in the books and the season's halfway point approaching Saturday at Milwaukee, Wardle and the Phoenix look forward to more impressive showings from their freshmen guards in 2012.

###

Season tickets, Pick 5 packages and single-game tickets for both programs are currently on sale with the Green Bay ticket office. For more information on ticket packages and promotions, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com/tickets.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix, @GBPhoenixMBB and @GBGavin.

Like Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball and Green Bay Phoenix Athletics on Facebook.

Team Notes

• Green Bay had offensive season highs in field goal percentage (59.4%, 29-49), three pointers made (12), three-point percentage (50.0%, 12-24) and assists (20).
• The 12 three-pointers marked the first time Green Bay has made 10 or more three-pointers under head coach Brian Wardle and the first since hitting 10 on Feb. 27, 2010 against Loyola and the most since hitting 12 against Samford on Nov. 14, 2009.
• Removing big men Alec Brown (0-4) and Brennan Cougill (0-3), Green Bay's remaining players connected on 12-of-17 three-pointers.
• In its last three games, Green Bay has made 24 three-pointers (24-61) despite a 3-for-17 effort at Butler on Dec. 29.
• Green Bay had five players reach double figures for the first time under Wardle and the first time since March 2, 2010 in an 81-67 win over Youngstown State.
• The Phoenix made 17 free throws against Valparaiso, the fourth-straight time Green Bay had made 10 or more.
• The 32 points scored by the Green Bay were the most scored by the Phoenix reserves since scoring 39 against UIC on Dec. 1.
• The last time Green Bay scored 80 or more points in a Horizon League game was also against Valpo. The Phoenix defeated Valpo 81-80 in overtime on Feb. 21, 2011.
• The last time Green Bay scored 80 or more points and lost was on Feb. 27, 2005 when the Phoenix lost at Wright State 94-80.
• The state of Indiana has not been kind to the Phoenix despite strong efforts. Green Bay has lost to Indiana State (1 point), Butler (4 points) and Valparaiso (3 points) by a combined eight points.
• Green Bay's strength of schedule is currently ranked 10th (Jeff Sagarin rankings) and 11th (RPIRatings.com) in the nation. The schedule has been ranked among the top-10 most difficult for much of the 2011-12 season.

Individual Notes

• Sophomore Alec Brown had 21 points and 11 rebounds against Valparaiso, the second time this season and third career time the 7-foot-1 center has had 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds.
• It was Brown's fourth double-double this season and seventh in his career.
• Brown is now averaging 19.3 points and 10 rebounds in three career games against Valpo.
• With three blocks at Butler and one at Valpo, Brown now has at least one block in 13 of games this season and 40 of 46 in his career. He now has 104 career blocks.
• Brown has started in each of his 46 career games.
• Brown currently ranks in the top-10 in the Horizon League in points (seventh, 14.1), rebounding (second, 7.6), free throw percentage (sixth, 80.6), blocks (third, 2.6), offensive rebounds (second, 3.3) and defensive rebounds (ninth, 9.3).
• Brown reached 500 career points in his 45th career game with 13 against Butler on Thursday.
• Steve Baker made 2-of-3 three-pointers at Valpo and leads the Horizon League in three-point percentage (48.4, 20-41).
• Kam Cerroni made 3-of-4 from long range against the Crusaders and is sixth in the league in three-point percentage (40.9, 18-44).
• Cerroni scored 11 points at Valpo and has scored in double figures in two of the past three games. He added a career-high five assists.
• Daniel Turner had a season-high 11 points, making 4-of-5 shots from the field, including 2-of-3 from long range.