VALPARAISO, Ind. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Visiting Green Bay (10-10, 4-3 HL) fell behind early and despite a comeback which cut a 16-point deficit to just three at halftime, the Phoenix could not rally past league-leading Valparaiso (16-5, 6-1 HL) in a 73-61 loss at the Athletics and Recreation Center on Wednesday night.

Junior Alec Brown (Winona, Minn.) scored a team-high 18 points in the defeat, but a third foul early in the second half limited his minutes. The 7-foot-1 junior had 14 of his 18 points in the opening half and added six rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore Keifer Sykes (Chicago, Ill.) scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half and senior Brennan Cougill (Sioux City, Iowa) also reached double figures with 12.

The Phoenix was undone by Valparaiso's ability to get to the foul line and convert its opportunities. Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Broekhoff was held to just 2-of-7 shooting from the field but knocked down 14-of-15 at the foul line to score a game-high 19 points as Valpo made 27-of-33 at the charity stripe.

In a matchup of the league's top two rebounding teams, Green Bay outrebounded Valparaiso 33-31 behind nine rebounds from freshman Jordan Fouse (Racine, Wis.). 

Green Bay continues its four-game road trip on Friday night at Milwaukee at 8 p.m. in a game televised by ESPNU.