Phoenix, Panthers set for instate battle

Green Bay Phoenix (12-3, 1-0) vs. Milwaukee Panthers (5-11, 0-2)
Location: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Time: 8:00 p.m. CST
Broadcast: TV – ESPNU; Radio – WISN-AM1130

For the past month the Milwaukee Panthers have been on the road, and it wasn’t pretty as they dropped all five games. Now they will look to turn things around when they face the Green Bay Phoenix in an instate Horizon League battle on Friday night.

Green Bay was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League this season, and so far they have lived up to all the hype. They are entering this game on a three-game winning streak with their lone conference win coming against Wright State.

Leading the Phoenix offensive attack is senior point guard and reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Keifer Sykes. The high flying, under sized guard is averaging 17.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Milwaukee native Carrington Love ranks second in scoring for Green Bay, averaging 10.4 points per game.

Green Bay possesses arguably the best defense in the Horizon League, ranking first in scoring defense (57.2 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.295). They also rank second in field goal percentage defense (.382).

During the Panthers’ five-game losing streak, they have been dreadful on both ends of the floor, while getting blown out in their first two conference games.

Milwaukee’s offense will struggle against Green Bay’s challenging defense, so the Panthers need to find away to step up on the defensive end and hopefully slow down Keifer Sykes. Sykes is too good to be shutdown, but if Milwaukee’s defense is able to hold him under 10 points they should remain in this game until the very end.

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