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MADISON, Wis. — Max Klesmit‘s blazing begin put Wisconsin in place to beat Marquette for a 3rd straight season.
His teammates picked up the slack from there because the Badgers used their rebounding superiority to defeat the third-ranked Golden Eagles 75-64 on Saturday. Klesmit scored all 21 of his factors within the first half and posted his highest level complete since transferring from Wofford earlier than the 2022-23 season.
“(To get) off to a scorching begin like that, it has been some time,” Klesmit mentioned. “Perhaps even again to highschool. You have to go earlier than Wofford.”
Wisconsin followers stormed the courtroom to have a good time the primary three-game profitable streak for both crew within the 130-game sequence between two in-state rivals separated by 79 miles. Wisconsin gained 4 straight over Marquette from 1998-2001.
The Badgers by no means trailed, thanks partly to Klesmit’s quick begin. Klesmit shot 6 of 9 general, 5 of 8 from 3-point vary and 4 of 4 on free-throw makes an attempt within the first half as Wisconsin had a 46-33 lead on the break.
“Give Klesmit quite a lot of credit score,” Marquette coach Shaka Good mentioned. “I like him as a participant as a result of he’s like: ‘I am going after it. I do not care who I am enjoying towards. I do not care what anybody says. I’ll play with a chip on our shoulder.’ Perhaps our crew can take a cue from that – watching that – and possibly we are able to emulate him.”
Klesmit did not rating after halftime, when Good famous Marquette’s defenders “had been shut sufficient he may scent our breath.”
Wisconsin nonetheless discovered a method to win, thanks partly to its dominance on the glass. Wisconsin outrebounded the Golden Eagles 38-23 and outscored them 18-2 in second-chance factors.
“The coaches have been on Tyler (Wahl) and I and AJ (Storr) – our 3, 4, 5 – about crashing the glass,” mentioned Steven Crowl, who had 16 factors and a game-high eight rebounds. “It is form of proven this season.”
Storr had 13 factors and Wahl 10 for Wisconsin. Kam Jones scored 19 and Tyler Kolek added 11 for Marquette.
After trailing by 16 within the closing seconds of the primary half, Marquette went on a 17-2 run to get the margin down to 1 with 14:46 left within the recreation. However the Golden Eagles by no means may seize the lead and did not make a basket for greater than seven minutes at one level within the second half, enabling Wisconsin to regain its double-digit benefit.
“When adversity comes, you have to return and assault it,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard mentioned. “We did not get that deer-in-the-headlight look. I feel we responded. A part of that was I feel the older guys within the huddle – Tyler, Max, Chucky (Hepburn) – had been fairly vocal and bought after some guys about how we would have liked to play, they usually responded.”
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Marquette: The Golden Eagles hold digging themselves into early holes throughout these annual matchups with Wisconsin. They trailed by 16 early within the second half final yr however rallied to take the lead earlier than Wisconsin in the end survived 80-77 in extra time. Marquette practically erased a 16-point deficit once more Saturday however ended up paying for its poor begin.
Wisconsin: The Badgers appeared on the verge of blowing a chance for a signature win when their lead shrank amid a flurry of turnovers early within the second half. However they regained their poise, performed distinctive protection and earned their first win over a top-five crew since a 74-69 victory at No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 3, 2022. Wisconsin maintained it lead regardless of capturing 0 for 7 from 3-point vary within the second half.
Ballot implications
Marquette probably will drop a few spots, however may stay within the prime 5 on Monday. Wisconsin did not get a single vote on this week’s AP High 25 ballot, so it should take a giant leap for the Badgers to make it into the rankings based mostly on this victory.
Up subsequent
Marquette: Hosts Texas on Wednesday in a Large East/Large 12 Battle matchup. Marquette coach Shaka Good coached Texas from 2015-21.
Wisconsin: Opens its Large Ten schedule by visiting Michigan State on Tuesday.
