In the past decade of Big Ten basketball, the Badgers (9-5 Big Ten, 22-5 overall) have only finished lower than fourth once. Their quest to continue this trend was put to the test in Iowa City Saturday morning.
In what was an intense, physical game, Wisconsin prevailed to defeat the Hawkeyes 79-74.
Both teams came out shooting tremendously, as the game was an early offensive battle.
UW shot 5-for-8 from beyond the arc early to give the Badgers an early lead. Neither team could find an answer defensively.
Wisconsin got production early from an unlikely source in freshman guard Bronson Koenig, who scored 12 points after coming off the bench. Koenig would finish the game 5-for-7 from the field, including two 3-pointers.
Junior center Frank Kaminsky and sophomore forward Sam Dekker picked up right where they left off in Ann Arbor. Kaminsky was 4-for-4 from the field and Dekker scored 12 points in the first half.
As for the Hawkeyes, their go-to guard senior Roy Devyn Marble found his way to the rim often. He finished the half with a team-high 12 points.
Wisconsin went into halftime with a 40-31 lead.
Iowa came out hot in the second half, thanks to junior guard Josh Oglesby. The Badgers could not find an answer for the bench player, who put on a shooting clinic in the second half. He would finish the game 8-for-12 from the field with 17 points.
The game continued to be back-and-forth, but midway through the half, the Hawkeyes went on a crucial 9-0 run to take the lead.
With over six minutes to play, Iowa found themselves up six points and the momentum going their way.
However, Wisconsin would not let the game get away.
With just over three minutes to play, redshirt junior guard Josh Gasser and freshman forward Nigel Hayes converted on back-to-back three point plays to gain back a one point lead.
The game continued to be a battle for the final three minutes.
With 58 seconds left in regulation, Iowa held a 72-71 lead.
Gasser found Kaminsky in the post, who converted the lay-in to retake the lead 73-72, with 33 seconds left.
Marble drove to the hoop for Iowa on the following possession, but lost the ball in the process. Kaminsky recovered the loose ball and was immediately fouled and would go to the line for free throws.
Kaminsky made them both to push the Badgers' lead to three with 25 seconds to play.
Senior forward Zach McCabe of the Hawkeyes had a decent 3-point look to tie the game, but did not come close on the attempt, and the Badgers snagged the rebound.
Wisconsin would hold on to win 79-74 to grab their fifth consecutive win and pass Iowa in the conference standings.
Dekker finished the game with a double-double as he had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kaminsky lead UW with 21 points.
The Badgers now stand in third place in the conference with four games to play.
Their next game will be at home against Indiana on Tuesday.
