Sykes' 36 leads Green Bay past Ill.-Chicago, 72-67

CHICAGO -- Keifer Sykes pumped in 36 points and knocked down 7 of 8 from the line in the final :37 to help Green Bay hold off Illinois-Chicago, 72-67 on Thursday night.

After a TV timeout with 6:10 left, Sykes scored 12 of Green Bay's final 14 points. Jay Harris knocked down a 3-pointer to pull Illinois-Chicago within two points, 69-67, but Sykes closed the game out by converting 3 of 4 from the line.

Sykes is only the second Phoenix player to score at least 2,000 career points, the 10th player in Horizon League history to reach that mark and the first to score 2,000-plus points, grab 400-plus rebounds and dish off 400-plus assists.

Sykes was 13 of 23 from the field, including 1 of 5 from distance, and 9 of 11 from the line to lead Green Bay (22-7, 11-4 Horizon).

Harris scored 26 points to lead Illinois-Chicago (7-23, 3-12).