In a night that featured non-stop basketball action across the country, one of the most anticipated matchups was between the No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 22 Creighton Bluejays in Ohama, as part of the Gavitt Tip-off Games.
The game got off to a nightmarish start for the away team, as Creighton (2-0) went up 8-0 and Wisconsin turned it over three times to start the game. Coach Greg Gard called a very quick timeout only 84 seconds in.
Senior leader Nigel Hayes helped the Badgers get back on track early, scoring eight quick points and tying the game at 11 at the 14:09 mark.
Hayes and Bronson Koenig started a barrage of threes for the Badgers, as the team started 8/13 from three and led 28-20 at one point.
However, the team missed their last 12 three pointers and trailed at the half, 30-33, as Creighton pushed the tempo and stars Maurice Watson Jr. and Marcus Foster had six and 10 points, respectively.
Creighton doubled down on Wisconsin on almost every post touch, and most of the Badgers’ three-point attempts were open in the first half. Wisconsin also got into foul trouble with Ethan Happ, Khalil Iverson, and Vitto Brown all picking up three apiece by the 6:26 mark.
The Badgers got off to a hot start in the second half, with big men Happ and Brown trading baskets to give the away team a 39-38 lead. Foster answered right back with a deep three for Creighton to give the Bluejays back the lead 41-39.
Creighton picked up five quick fouls to start the second half, and Happ left the game with three fouls at the 13:20 mark leading 46-44.
After a few minutes of back and forth play, Creighton went on a 9-0 run in under two minutes to lead 63-52, and Wisconsin never recovered. Finally, with 5:21 left in the second half, the Badgers shot their first free throws.
The Badgers relied too much on the three-point line with a whopping 39 attempts, and just didn’t have enough going, falling 79-67 to a tough Creighton team.
The Badgers (1-1) will get Chicago State in the Kohl Center this Friday at 7 p.m.