ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a decisive second-half surge, the Green Bay Phoenix delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Youngstown State Penguins 85-63 in a Horizon League men’s basketball contest Saturday afternoon at the Resch Center.

A crowd of 2,438 watched as Green Bay, improving to 17-13 overall, used a blistering 49-point second half to pull away from a Penguins team that fell to 15-15. The game, which featured remarkably few turnovers and assists, was ultimately decided by shooting accuracy and a dominant stretch after halftime.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Green Bay taking a narrow 36-28 lead into the break. Youngstown State’s Cris Carroll, a forward from Tallahassee, Florida, kept his team close with 12 early points, but the Phoenix countered with balanced scoring. The opening period foreshadowed little of the onslaught to come, as both teams traded missed opportunities and the lead changed hands several times in the early minutes.

The most important part of the game unfolded decisively in the opening minutes of the second half. Leading by eight, Green Bay erupted with a 15-5 run over the first four minutes, transforming a competitive game into a comfortable double-digit advantage. The run was fueled by the backcourt duo of Justin Allen and Preston Ruedinger, who consistently broke down the Youngstown State defense. Allen, a guard from Mount Kisco, New York, scored on a driving layup, then assisted on a Preston Ruedinger three-pointer. Ruedinger, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, followed with another assist on a CJ O’Hara dunk, forcing a Youngstown State timeout with the Phoenix ahead 43-33 just over two minutes into the half.

The Penguins had no answer. Every attempt to cut into the lead was met with an immediate Phoenix response. Youngstown State’s offensive struggles, shooting just 40 percent from the field for the game, were magnified by Green Bay’s exceptional efficiency. The Phoenix shot a scorching 59.6 percent, making 34 of 57 attempts, and were nearly perfect from the free-throw line, converting 14 of 16.

Allen finished as the game’s high scorer with 22 points, orchestrating the offense with precision. Ruedinger was the catalyst, contributing 18 points and a game-high seven assists, consistently finding seams in the Penguins’ defense. O’Hara, from Minneapolis, added 16 points and two blocks, providing a strong interior presence.

For Youngstown State, Carroll led the way with 22 points, showcasing a versatile inside-out game. Vladimer Salaridze, from Tbilisi, Georgia, provided a second-half spark off the bench to finish with 12 points, but the Penguins’ offense often stagnated, evidenced by a season-low two assists as a team. The Penguins also managed only six three-pointers on 21 attempts.

Green Bay’s offensive rating of 131.6 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with Youngstown State’s 95.3, underlining the disparity in execution. The Phoenix also won the possession battle, scoring their 85 points on just 65 trips, while the Penguins needed 66 possessions to reach 63 points.

The victory gave Green Bay a season split with Youngstown State, avenging an 88-81 loss on the road in January. Entering the game as a slight 1.5-point favorite, the Phoenix easily covered the spread, and the combined score of 148 landed under the posted over/under of 145.5.

With the win, Green Bay secured a winning regular-season record and momentum heading into the conference tournament. Youngstown State, meanwhile, will look to regroup after a defeat that highlighted their difficulties in containing high-efficiency offenses on the road. The game was a clear demonstration of Green Bay’s ability to elevate its play after halftime and capitalize on its significant advantages in field goal percentage and offensive flow.