Badgers getting tougher: squeaks past Indiana 82-79 in OT

WISCONSIN 82     OT

INDIANA 79

Madison W.I.~ Don’t get me wrong, these 12-9 Wisconsin Badgers are a long way from the Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker-led team they were a year ago, but improvement is on the rise in Madison. Wisconsin is on a 3-game winning streak, and their most recent victory was an 82-79 overtime victory over the Indiana Hoosiers at the Kohl Center.  After just getting by then #4 ranked Michigan State 76-77, the Badgers beat Penn State 66-60 and then defeated the #19 Hoosiers, who earlier beat the Badgers earlier in the year 70-69.

Nigel Hayes and Ethan Happ were magnificent for Wisconsin scoring a combined 56 points. Hayes scored a career high 31 points for the Badgers while finishing with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Hayes hit 17 of 22 free throw attempts, the last two coming in overtime with 3.7 seconds remaining, to give Wisconsin a 3 point cushion.  Happ scored 25 points, brought in 8 rebounds and converted on 5 of his 7 free throws. A rare dark spot in Wisconsin’s victory was Bronson Koenig, who only made 1 of 9 shots from the floor and finished with four points and held the ball as the final seconds ticked off in overtime.

Indiana star Yogi Ferrell scored 30 points for Indiana in their 14th straight loss at the Kohl Center and their 15th loss out of their 17 games against the Badgers.