The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 75-60 Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin came into this game after a disappointing 25-point defeat against the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats on Dec. 9 in Tucson. With their six-game win streak broken, the Badgers looked to regain their step against the Gamecocks.
Wahl led the way for Wisconsin and scored the Badgers’ first eight points to start off the game. Wisconsin and Jacksonville State were neck-and-neck in the first 10 minutes as the Badgers’ lead stayed within single digits. Wisconsin led the entirety of the game, except for 20 seconds in the first half.
With eight minutes left in the first half, Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter made back-to-back shots that gave the Badgers their first double-digit lead of the game. However, the Gamecocks caught Wisconsin off-guard a 10-1 run that cut the Badgers’ lead down to three three minutes before halftime.
After Jacksonville State’s run, the Badgers continued their scoring onslaught and scored eight points in the final three minutes of the first half to enter halftime with an eight-point lead. Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl dominated the first half in tandem with Wahl, his forward partner.
Crowl, who scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first half, continued his scoring pace with 10 points the second half. Crowl only grabbed two rebounds, but the Badgers dominated the game nonetheless and cruised through the second half to the final whistle.
In a postgame press conference, Crowl said the Badgers try to dominate any chance they get no matter which team they face.
“We’re trying to dominate whoever’s guarding us,” Crowl said. “We want to have more games like this.”
Wisconsin, now 8-3 on the season, has a week off before facing Chicago State on Dec. 22 at the Kohl Center.
