INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Green Bay Phoenix used a strong second half to defeat the IU Indy Jaguars 85-75 in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Thursday night at Fairgrounds Coliseum. Trailing 36-33 at halftime, Green Bay surged with 52 second-half points. LeBron Thomas, Preston Ruedinger and CJ O’Hara each scored 20 points to lead the Phoenix. Micah Davis and Kyler D’Augustino scored 17 apiece for the Jaguars. Green Bay improved to 5-6 overall. IU Indy dropped to 3-9. Attendance was 676.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance fueled by a trio of 20-point scorers propelled the Green Bay Phoenix to an 85-75 victory over the IU Indy Jaguars in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Thursday night at Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Phoenix, who trailed by three at halftime, outscored the Jaguars 52-39 after the break, leveraging superior efficiency and clutch free-throw shooting to pull away down the stretch. The win improved Green Bay to 5-6 overall, while IU Indy dropped to 3-9. The game’s pivotal sequence arrived early in the second half, transforming a narrow deficit into a commanding lead from which the Jaguars could not recover. Trailing 36-33 at intermission, Green Bay exploded with a 15-5 run over the first five minutes of the final period. The surge was ignited by a Marcus Hall dunk off a Preston Ruedinger assist and capped by a corner 3-pointer from Ruedinger, assisted by LeBron Thomas, giving the Phoenix a 48-41 advantage they would not relinquish. That run established the tone for the half, highlighting Green Bay’s offensive execution and IU Indy’s growing struggles. The Phoenix shot 48.1% from the field in the second half and, critically, made 19 of 23 free throws after halftime. Conversely, the Jaguars’ offense sputtered, managing just a 39.5% clip from the floor and connecting on only 3 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. Green Bay’s offensive balance proved overwhelming. LeBron Thomas, a 6-foot-3 guard from Bishopville, South Carolina, led the way with 20 points. He was joined by backcourt mate Preston Ruedinger of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who also scored 20 and added five assists, and forward CJ O’Hara of Minneapolis, who contributed 20 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, and a block. The Phoenix won despite being narrowly outplayed in several hustle categories, as IU Indy posted advantages in assists, steals and turnovers. The difference came in shooting efficiency and capitalizing on opportunities. Green Bay finished the game shooting 48.1% overall, compared to IU Indy’s 39.3%. From 3-point range, the Phoenix hit 9 of 21, while the Jaguars labored to a 7-for-27 night. Most decisively, Green Bay converted 26 of 31 free throws, a 83.9% rate, while IU Indy made 20 of 26. IU Indy was led by the backcourt duo of Micah Davis and Kyler D’Augustino, who each scored 17 points. Davis, from Greenwood, Indiana, added five assists. Forward Jaxon Edwards of Indianapolis provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, two blocks and two steals. The first half was a tightly contested affair featuring eight lead changes. IU Indy built its largest lead at 29-22 following a 7-0 run, but Green Bay chipped away, closing the gap to 36-33 by halftime behind 11 points from Ruedinger. The second-half turnaround, however, was comprehensive. After the decisive early run, Green Bay methodically extended its lead, responding to every mini-run by the Jaguars with key baskets or trips to the foul line. A driving layup by Thomas pushed the lead to 10 points with just over 12 minutes remaining, and the Phoenix maintained a cushion of at least six points for the remainder of the contest. In the final minutes, Green Bay sealed the game at the charity stripe, making 10 of 12 free throws in the last 1:23 to close out the 10-point victory. The game was a conference opener for both teams, played before an announced crowd of 676. Green Bay’s next game is at home against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 17. IU Indy hosts Miami-Middletown on Dec. 16.

Struggling Horizon League Teams Seek Momentum as Green Bay Visits IU Indy INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Two men’s basketball teams looking to halt slides will meet Thursday when the Green Bay Phoenix face the IU Indy Jaguars in a Horizon League contest at Fairgrounds Coliseum. Green Bay (4-6) arrives after a 58-86 road loss to Wright State on Sunday, its second straight defeat. The Phoenix have shown flashes, including a three-game win streak last month with victories over Massachusetts and Iona, but have struggled for consistency. IU Indy (3-8) has lost five of its last six, most recently a 55-78 home loss to Youngstown State on Saturday. The Jaguars’ defense has been a persistent issue, allowing 90 or more points in six games this season. The matchup features two of the league’s top scorers. Green Bay will lean on guard CJ O’Hara, who is averaging 17.0 points over his last five games. He scored 19 in the loss to Wright State and had a 21-point performance in the win at UMass. For the Jaguars, guard Kyler D’Augustino provides the primary offensive threat. He is averaging 18.4 points per game and is coming off a 19-point effort against Youngstown State. He erupted for 28 points at Charleston Southern and 25 in a win over Morehead State. Both teams have faced challenging non-conference schedules. Green Bay’s losses include road games at Kansas and Minnesota. IU Indy’s defeats have come against the likes of Ohio State, Butler and Alabama State. This game opens the Horizon League schedule for both squads. The conference season offers a fresh start, but each team is already seeking to address early concerns. Green Bay aims to improve its ball security and shooting after a poor offensive showing last time out. IU Indy desperately needs to find a defensive rhythm to support its capable offense. The Phoenix won both meetings last season. They will meet again in Green Bay on Jan. 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday at Fairgrounds Coliseum.