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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Green Bay
UW-Green Bay Edges Bowling Green, 65-62, in Oneida Holiday Classic
December 30, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2006
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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - On a night that wasnt his best, Ryan Evanochko still found a way to come through when it mattered most.
Evanochkos 3-pointer with 26.9 seconds remaining was the clinching basket for Wisconsin-Green Bay, which defeated Bowling Green 65-62 in the de facto title game of the Oneida Casino Holiday Classic on Saturday night.
The decisive 3-pointer was Evanochkos only basket of the second half as he finished 3-of-17 from the field. Wis.-Green Bay (8-6) won despite shooting 33.3 percent from the field, while Bowling Green (9-4) finished at 51.1 percent.
"Theres nobody that I want having the basketball in his hands besides Ryan Evanochko come crunch time or to make plays. Hes a guy that makes plays and makes winning plays," said Wis.-Green Bay coach Tod Kowalczyk.
Evanochko and Mike Schachtner scored 12 points apiece for the Phoenix who finished the four-team round-robin tournament 3-0 and improved to 11-0 in the tournament under Kowalczyk.
Tournament MVP Terry Evans had 10 points, six steals and five rebounds for the Phoenix. Aswan Minatee and Troy Cotton added 10 points apiece off the bench. Cotton also had a team-high six rebounds.
"It was a good win for our program but a good win for our league as well. Ive got a lot of respect for Bowling Green," Kowalczyk said. "We knew tonight would be an absolute battle."
Brian Moten led the Falcons with 16 points and Martin Samarco added 13. Nate Miller had nine points and seven rebounds.
With the teams tied at 48 with 9:29 left in the game, the Phoenix took control with a 9-0 run. Bowling Green closed to within 60-59 on a Miller basket with 59 seconds left but Evanochko hit his 3-pointer with two seconds remaining on the shot clock on the ensuing possession.
"I think that this was probably physically the best team weve played," Bowling Green coach Dan Dakich said. "I think strength-wise and setup-wise in terms of coaching and the way to play us, this was probably the best team weve played all year."
After Evanochko's basket, Samarco missed a 3-pointer on Bowling Green's next possession. Wis.-Green Bays Minatee rebounded and drew a foul, hitting both free throws with 11.6 seconds left.
Moten then hit a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Wis.-Green Bay lost starting forward Josh Lawrence to an apparent concussion following a collision with Bowling Greens Ryne Hamblet during the second half.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Falcons. The Phoenix have won six of seven and improved to 6-0 at home.
