Seasoned duo leads Phoenix men

bballguardsThe Phoenix men’s basketball team has had success with backcourt tandems through the years — think Tony Bennett and John Martinez in the 1991 NCAA tournament. Not at that level yet but beginning to generate some buzz are Troy Cotton, a 6-1 senior from Milwaukee and Rahmon Fletcher, a 5-10 junior from Kansas City.

The seasoned duo has carried the Phoenix this year, each averaging about 15 points per game, and both tossing in 19 points last week in UW-Green Bay’s win over Northern Michigan. In the early season Cotton and Fletcher have led the Phoenix to one of its best starts (4-2) in recent history.

Cotton_Fletcher_smallFletcher is the playmaker and leads the team in assists (23) and steals (12). But he can hit a three-pointer when called upon and is 8-20 from beyond the arc this season. Cotton is more of a pure shooter and was described earlier this season as one of the country’s best by Phoenix Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. He is 22-of-47 from long range (47 percent).

Add Bryquis Perine, a 6-3 junior guard from Milwaukee, to the mix, and opponents have to deal with three serious playmakers. Perine was the hero on Nov. 15 when his three-pointer at the buzzer lifted the Phoenix past Kent State. That followed a sensational night for the shifty guard who ended up with a career-high 20 points.

The Phoenix takes to the road for games against the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State. Horizon League action heats up upon the team’s return with home games again Loyola on Dec. 3 and UIC Dec. 5 followed by an instate rivalry against the Wisconsin badgers Dec. 9 that is already generating hype. For tickets and the hoopla go to http://www.greenbayphoenix.com/

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