GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Kailex Stephens had a coming out party in his first regular season action after a season-ending injury a year ago. The forward willed Indiana State from a 12-point deficit after recording 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the 81-77 victory over Green Bay Tuesday night inside the Kress Center.
 
Kamari McGee pushed the Phoenix lead to 12 points seven minutes into the second half before the Sycamores began to chip away at the lead. Xavier Bledson converted an and-one opportunity before Cameron Henry put in a layup to cut the lead to seven.
 
Cloverdale, Indiana native Cooper Neese scored 18 including a go-ahead bucket in the second half. Neese shot 6-for-15 while knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
 
Cameron Henry got things going in the second half as he finished his night with 15 points, including 7-for-11 from the charity stripe as four Sycamores scored in double-figures. Xavier Bledson also added 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.
 
With ISU on top 79-77 with 32 seconds, the Phoenix were able to get two shots up before Stephens grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Stephens went on to hit both of his free throws to ice the game and give first-year head coach Josh Schertz his first career win at Indiana State.
 
Green Bay scored 24 points off of 16 ISU turnovers in the game. ISU was able to hold GB to just two second half three pointers after the Phoenix netted seven in the first half.
 
Indiana State won the battle on the boards 37-28 as all eight Sycamores that saw action recorded a rebound.
 
Green Bay extended its lead to double digits with eight minutes left in the first half after back-to-back three-pointers forcing a Sycamore timeout. ISU was able to get six-straight points to pull to within six at 31-25. Xavier Bledson cut the GB lead to 31-28 after converting a three-point play with 6:11 remaining to cap off a 9-0 run in under two minutes of action.
 
Indiana State continued to fight back from a 12-point deficit eventually tying the game at 36 as Zach Hobbs nailed a corner three off a Bledson assist. Green Bay answered the Indiana State rally with a 7-0 run to close out the first half and take a 43-38 lead into the locker room.
 
Stephens led the Sycamores after 20 minutes with 10 points and six rebounds while Cooper Neese and Xavier Bledson scored eight points each in the first half.
 
The Phoenix were lights out from deep in the first half, connecting on seven of their 13 attempts. Emmanuel Ansong led GB with 11 points while hitting all three shots he took from deep. Green Bay was able to convert nine Sycamore first half turnovers into 15 points.  
 
Ansong led Green Bay with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Donovan Ivory added 16 points while McGee chipped in 14 for the Phoenix.
 
Indiana State returns to action Friday night with a trip to nationally ranked Purdue. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Mackey Arena.
 
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