GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Benito Flores, Josh Lawrence and Javier
Mendiburu each scored 11 points to lead Wisconsin-Green Bay to a
68-60 victory over Hartford in the championship game of the Oneida
Bingo & Casino Classic Thursday night.
The Phoenix shot just 35 percent from the floor, including 26
percent in the second half, but pulled out the win with strong
defense and solid free-throw shooting.
Green Bay scored 31 of its points at the line, shooting 76
percent. Matt Rohde added 10 points to give the Phoenix four
players in double figures.
Rohde closed the first half with a 3-pointer, and Brandon Morris
opened the second half with a basket to give Green Bay a 42-29
lead.
But Aaron Cook and Bo Taylor combined for nine points during an
11-2 Hartford run midway through the second half that tied the game
at 50-50.
Two minutes later, after Cook's 3-pointer tied it at 56-56,
Flores hit two free throws and followed with a 3-pointer on the
Phoenix's next possession for a 61-56 Green Bay lead with four
minutes left.
The Phoenix made seven of eight free throws in the final minute
to seal the win.
At 7-3, it's their best start since the 1995-96 season.
Cook led Hartford with 19 points and David Ruffin had 13.
Mendiburu was named the tournament MVP, while teammates Lawrence
and Morris were named to the all-tournament team. Cook also made
the all-tourney team, as did Rider's Jerry Johnson and North Dakota
State's Adam Dobmeier.