MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — The Wisconsin Badgers extended their winning streak to five games Thursday with a 79-68 victory over Big Ten rival Ohio State.
The Badgers made fewer free throws, but made more three pointers in a game that where the Buckeyes focused their defense on Nigel Hayes. Hayes still had an outstanding game, putting up 21 points, and seven rebounds. He also sank four key free throws in the final 2 minutes 16 seconds, and was 2-7 from three-point land.
Bronson Koenig hit 3 of 7 three-pointers and 13 points for the night. Vitto Brown returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench at Illinois. Brown scored 12 points and had five rebounds. He also had 7 of UW’s first 11 points. One of Brown;s big plays was in the last minute of the game when he nailed one from the wing as the shot-clock nearly expired, giving Bucky a 75-68 lead. Ethan Happ added 12 points, five boards, and three assists. Jordan Hill scored nine points. Alex Illikainen and Zak Showalter each added six.
Wisconsin was 49 percent from behind the arc, going 13-27 from three land. Seven of those shots were from three players. Hill hit 3 of 4 three-pointers, Illikainen 2 of 3 and Showalter 2 of 3.
The Badgers were a bit down in free throw percentage, making just 10-17 from the stripe.
Wisconsin is now 6-4 in Big Ten play, and 14-9 overall. Ohio State slipped to 6-5 in the league and 14-10 overall.
Head Coach Greg Gard said after the game his club still has a lot of room to get better, but, “The effort, energy, and passion has been there since the beginning.”
Gard says the Badger squad will be working on a “team building” experience Friday, before they return to the court Saturday to prepare for Nebraska next week.
