Phoenix rise, Flames go out on Cotton’s 3s

January 29, 2009 at 12:06a.m.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Troy Cotton sank six 3-pointers in the second half and scored 25 points in Wisconsin-Green Bays 83-72 victory over Illinois-Chicago in a Horizon League game on Wednesday night.

The Flames led 37-36 at halftime before Cotton got hot. His first 3-pointer of the half gave the Phoenix a 39-37 lead, and his second gave Green Bay the lead for good at 42-41.

Two more 3s by Cotton bumped the margin to 52-45. A 3 by Mike Schachtner made it 55-45, and Green Bay led by at least eight points for the rest of the game.

Ryan Tillema added 18 points for Green Bay (16-6, 8-2), which sank 9-of-14 3-pointers in the second half.

Robo Kreps paced the Flames (10-10, 3-7) with 17 points.

Wis-Milwaukee 72, Loyola of Chicago 58

MILWAUKEE — Avery Smith scored 17 points, Tone Boyle 15 and Ricky Franklin 13 to lead Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Panthers (13-8, 8-3) snapped a two-game losing streak that dropped them from first to third place in the league. Smith came back strong after failing to score in the last two games.

James Eayrs added 10 points for Milwaukee.

The Ramblers (12-10, 4-6) lost for the third time in five games. J.R. Blount had 12 points and Darrin Williams 10 for Loyola.