Koenig’s Killer lifts Wisconsin over Xavier

WISCONSIN 66

XAVIER 63

St. Louis Missouri ~ The Wisconsin Badgers edged out the Xavier Musketeers Sunday night on Bronson Koenig’s two clutch three-pointers, one of them a buzzer beater.

Koenig, who only scored two points Friday against the Pittsburgh Panthers, led the Badgers with 20 points, going 6 for 12 from beyond the arc. Ethan Happ scored 18 points for Wisconsin while Vitto Brown added 12 points.

For Xavier, Remy Abell and Jalen Reynolds scored 13 points apiece for the Musketeers.

The Badgers only scored 16 first half points against the Panthers of Pittsburgh, but against Xavier they got off to a huge start, leading 17-8 in a blink of an eye. The momentum switched sides many times throughout the first half although, and quickly Xavier came back. After a time-out by Chris Mack the Musketeers played a 1-3-1 zone and that stopped the Badgers offensively. Xavier, the Big East runner-ups, went on a 21-8 run of their own, and led by three at the intermission, 33-30.

In the early second half the led switched six times before Remy Abell knocked down a three-pointer to give Xavier a 49-47 lead.

Even though the Scottrade Center was heavy with Bucky fans the Xavier Musketeers began to stretch their lead and didn’t stop until they were leading 58-49, the largest lead of the game.

But the Badgers didn’t give up, they never do when March comes around. Led by the freshman Ethan Happ, Wisconsin pulled back and they trailed by one with 59 second remaing.

Then with 34.8 seconds left Edmond Sumner drove to the lane and made a shot under Vitto Brown. It looked as if it could be over for the Badgers, but Bronson Koenig brought the ball down confident. he wasn’t able to do anything though as Sumner was stuck on Koenig. Koenig tried everything and nothing worked so he dribbled way out and with 11.7 seconds left he took a shot and what a splash it was ! Xavier got the ball back and with 4.3 seconds left Sumner ran over Zak Showalter and Edmond Sumner was called for a charge with 4.3 seconds left in the game. With 2.0 seconds left Nigel Hayes called a time-out, and Greg Gard drew up a play for the Badgers. Happ in-bounded the ball to Bronson Koenig, who made a move on the two Musketeers guarding him. Happ quickly passed the ball to Koenig who took a dribble and took a base-line fadeawy jumper for three to win the game for the Badgers.

” I was just trying to channel my inner Steph Curry”, said Koenig.

The Wisconsin Badgers travel to Philadelphia to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sweet Sixteen.

After the game my dad told me We’re so damn lucky to be Badger fans. Boy, we all are.