The rough road for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team (3-3 Big Ten, 16-3 overall) this week wouldn’t get any smoother last night in Minneapolis, where the Gophers defeated the Badgers 81-68. This loss marks the third straight loss since beginning the season, a program-best, 16-0.
The game took a turn early on when Minnesota guard Andre Hollins was injured in the first thirty seconds of the contest. Hollins had been averaging 16.2 points and four rebounds per game prior to last night’s game.
Despite the unfortunate injury, it was the Golden Gophers who started off strong thanks to forward Maurice Walker, who marked a career high 14 points in the first half.
The Badgers struggled to stop Minnesota’s offense, while allowing the Gophers to shoot 52 percent from the field in the first half.
The player that stood out for Wisconsin was freshman forward Nigel Hayes, who continues to show growth. He tallied seven points and three rebounds in the first half. Sophomore forward Sam Dekker also scored a team-high seven points in the half.
UW was able to make a push near the end of the first half to close their deficit to only six points by halftime with a score of 28-34.
The Gophers would again take control of the game in the early going of the second half, this time lead by guard Deandre Mathieu.
Mathieu would finish the game with a team-leading 18 points.
The Badgers made several attempts to close the gap throughout the second half, but Minnesota held a double-digit lead with under ten minutes to play.
Wisconsin was able to reduce that lead to seven points with less than five minutes to play after a series of baskets by Dekker, who gave glimpses of hope for a Badger comeback. Dekker finished the game with 20 points and six rebounds, both team highs.
This hope would soon be diminished after Minnesota went on yet another run to close the game and seal victory over Wisconsin.
Wisconsin will play next on Saturday against Purdue, where they will try to avoid its fourth straight conference loss.
