GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay men's basketball team will conclude their four-game homestand this weekend, taking on Detroit Mercy before facing Oakland Saturday afternoon. It will the first time this season the Phoenix faces either team, with their earlier matchups being canceled and deemed no contests due to COVID-19 complications within the Green Bay program.

Thursday, Jan. 20 – 7 p.m. – RESCH CENTER
Detroit Mercy vs. Green Bay
Bud Light Night | Fleet Farm Pet Supply Drive
Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Saturday, Jan. 22 – 12 p.m. – KRESS CENTER
Oakland vs. Green Bay
Festival Foods Family Game | $1 Popcorn
Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
 
ABOUT THE TITANS
After starting the year 0-6 Detroit Mercy has won five out of their last eight games, including a 3-2 record in Horizon League contests. The Titans have gotten HL wins over IUPUI (69-45), UIC (64-56), and Milwaukee (85-60), but have dropped their last two conference games to Purdue Fort Wayne (62-60) and Cleveland State (72-70).
 
Detroit Mercy is led by one of the top scorers in the entire country Antoine Davis. Davis, son of Titans head coach Mike Davis, averages 23.9 points per game, the second-highest mark in NCAA DI. Davis is an extremely efficient scorer, shooting 41.2-percent from the floor, 40.6-percent from three, and 91.2-percent from the free throw line. Makut Akec is the only other Titan scoring in double figures, averaging 15.0 point to go along with 8.9 rebounds per game.
 
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
The Golden Grizzlies will make the trip to Wisconsin as the top team in the Horizon League, sitting at a perfect 7-0 league record. They are 13-4 overall, have won six straight since a 90-78 loss to Michigan State on Dec. 21, 2021. The last two games of their win streak have been particularly impressive – taking contests off of Cleveland State and Purdue Fort Wayne with just seven active players.
 
Oakland is balanced on the offensive end, featuring three players scoring 15+ ppg. Jamal Cain leads the Golden Grizzlies, averaging 19.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Jalen Moore and Trey Townsend aren't far behind, averaging 15.3 and 15.2 points per game respectively. As a team, Oakland is outscoring their opponents by an average of 9.4 points per game this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Green Bay has a slight advantage all-time against Detroit Mercy, holding a 33-29 record against the Titans. Due to a COVID season in 2020-21, the Phoenix haven't played a home game against the Motor City team since January 18, 2020. Green Bay also holds a slight advantage over Oakland with a 14-9 record all-time. The Golden Grizzlies entered the Horizon League in 2013, and GB has taken care of them at home, going 10-3.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Phoenix dropped their last game at home against UIC 63-80. Green Bay was short-handed for a second consecutive game, trotting out just seven players. Kamari McGee had another career day, pouring in 23 points and playing all 40 minutes. Prior to that, the Phoenix took care of IUPUI 69-54. Donovan Ivory scored 19 points in his return to lead Green Bay.
 
SUPER SATURDAY
Due to the Green Bay Packers home playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 22, Green Bay Athletics announced on Monday, Jan. 17 that the men's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 22 versus Oakland will be moved from the Resch Center to the Kress Center. Tip-off has been moved from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m.
 
JUMPMAN JAPANNAH
Japannah Kellogg is second on the team in rebounds (4.9 RPG) and leads the team with 34 offensive rebounds this season. Kellogg is one of two players to start every game this year, is averaging 7.1 points per game. The redshirt-freshman is also fourth in minutes, posting 26.6 per game. Kellogg is second on the squad in steals and blocks, with nine each.
 
CONFIDENT KAMARI
For a second consecutive week, the Horizon League named Kamari McGee Freshman of the Week. After garnering the honors on January 10, McGee followed up with stellar performances against IUPUI and UIC, scoring 35 points on 13-of-32 shooting (40.63-percent) from the field. McGee has burst onto the scene since a dominating performance at Kansas State on Dec. 12. He has bolstered himself to third in scoring on the team with 11.1 points per game.
 
MR. ASSIST
Lucas Stieber has been ranked consistently high in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio all year. With a 2.68 rating, he's good for 27^th nationally, representing as the only Horizon League member in the top 50, with Cleveland State's Deshon Parker (52^nd), and UIC's Jalen Warren (80^th) and Kevin Johnson (93^rd) trailing the Green Bay native.
 
MINUTES FOR MANNY
Despite missing the last two games due to health and safety protocols, Manny Ansong still leads the Phoenix in points (12.4), rebounds (5.3), and minutes per game (28.4). The junior is shooting 69-of-128 (53.9-percent) from the field, providing a continuous spark with his presence in the paint. Ansong is the team leader in steals as well, recording 14 on the year. He played his best game of the season in a 70-58 win over Robert Morris, where he led the team with 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go along with three rebounds and a steal.
 
DOMINANT DONOVAN
After transferring from Boise State to Green Bay, Donovan Ivory has proven to be a versatile player for the Phoenix, knocking down shots on the offensive end and protecting the rim on D. In the HL he ranks:

• Fourth from the charity stripe (39-of-45, 86.7-percent)
• Seventh in blocked shots (1.1 BPG)
• 21^st in three-point field goals made per game (1.4)
• 23^rd in overall scoring with 11.3 points per game

 
NEW PHOENIX FACES
Green Bay welcomes eight new members in 2021-22, including five transfers and three true freshmen.
 
Transfers
Mitch Listau (6-4, G | Belmont)
Randy Tucker (6-4, G | Vincennes)
Donovan Ivory (6-6, G | Boise State)
Tutu Majok (6-8, F | Bossier Parish CC)
Nate Jenkins (6-2, G | Iowa)
 
True Freshman
Kamari McGee (6-0, G | Racine St. Catherine's)
Cade Meyer (6-8, F | Monroe)
Brayden Dailey (6-7, F | Cuba City)
 
PRESEASON #HLMBB POLL
Pl. School (1st-place) – Votes
1. Cleveland State (30) – 502
2. Wright State (9) – 463
3. Northern Kentucky (1) – 406
4. Milwaukee (2)– 396
5. Detroit Mercy (2) – 350
6. Oakland – 340
7. Youngstown State – 214
8. UIC – 204
9. Purdue Fort Wayne – 169
10. Robert Morris– 157
11. Green Bay – 146
12. IUPUI - 85
 
###
  
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics and Green Bay Men's Basketball, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
  
 Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix and @GBPhoenixMBB
  
 Like Green Bay Phoenix Athletics and Green Bay Phoenix Men's Basketball on Facebook.
  
 ---GreenBayPhoenix.com---