The combination of a very game Jared Sullinger and Wisconsin’s inability to hit shots doomed the Badgers as their 6 game winning streak was snapped in a 58-52 loss to Ohio State. Ohio State (20-3, 8-2 conf.) now leads the conference standings in commanding fashion while the Badgers (18-6, 7-4 conf.) slip to a game and a half back of the Buckeyes.
It was the Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas show at the Kohl Center as they combined for 40 of the Buckeyes 58 points. Sullinger led all scores with 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Thomas wasn’t far behind adding 16 points and 6 rebounds.
In the losing effort the Badgers got pretty even scoring production, having 4 players score in double figures. Ryan Evans lead the team with 14 points, followed by Jordan Taylor (12), Mike Bruesewitz (11), and Jared Berggren (10).
Bruesewitz had the most complete game of any Badger adding 11 rebounds for a double double, the first of his Badgers career.
Wisconsin came out firing from deep and more importantly hitting from deep to start the game as they made 2 of their first 3 shots from behind the arc.
But it wasn’t a sign of things to come as they went 0 for their next 15 from deep and as a team Wisconsin was a terrible 18.7% from behind the arc for the game. That lack of production from deep cost the Badgers dearly in this very good defensive game.
Wisconsin held Ohio State to an even worse performance from deep, going only 1 of 7 for 14.3% on the game, but they countered that with 13 more free throw attempts and 10 more makes than Wisconsin.
It was always a close game and no one had a lead that stretched beyond the 7 point, 38-31, lead that Ohio State held with 12:23 left in the game. That lead was quickly cut down by Frank Kamisky’s rare 3 pointer to keep Wisconsin in the game.
Things remained very close for the rest of the half and Wisconsin would come back from a second 7 point deficit after Jared Sullinger hit a jumper to make it 48-41. In fact the Badgers would make it 51-50 with just 3:46 left in the game on a three pointer by Mike Bruesewitz, but would get no closer as Ohio State hit clutch shots and free throws down the stretch to put Wisconsin away.
Because of the massive amount of jump shots Wisconsin hit it took them until only 6:47 remained in the game to take their first free throw attempts. Jordan Taylor hit all three of his and Wisconsin’s attempts for the game.
Wisconisn had a shot under a minute left to cut into the 6 point Ohio State lead, but untimely turnovers and a lack of deep shooting cost the Badgers dearly in their late comeback attempt.
The win was the first in Madison for Thad Matta at Ohio State and marked the first for the program since the 2000 season when Wisconsin made it’s run to the Final Four under Dick Bennett.
Up next for Wisconsin is the “Border Battle” matchup with Minnesota in Minneapolis next Thursday at 6pmCT on ESPN.
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