MADISON, Wis. — D’Marco Dunn scored an impressive 25 points, while Yanic Konan Niederhauser contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, leading Penn State to an inspiring comeback in the second half for an 86-75 victory over the 12th-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday. This win thwarted Wisconsin’s chances of clinching a double bye in the impending Big Ten Tournament.
Wisconsin, standing at 23-8 overall and 13-7 in the Big Ten, entered the weekend locked in a tripartite tie for third place alongside No. 13 Maryland and No. 18 Purdue. The Badgers had the opportunity to secure a double bye spot with a win, especially after Illinois’ earlier victory over Purdue on Friday.
John Blackwell and Steven Crowl each tallied 19 points for Wisconsin. Before this game, the Badgers had maintained a record of 22 consecutive wins against Penn State at home, including an undefeated streak of 19 games at the Kohl Center.
For Penn State, now at 16-15 overall and 6-14 in the conference, the game began with a deficit, trailing by as much as 13 points late in the first half. However, they surged ahead 69-62 following a skillful turnaround shot by Dunn from the lane.
Wisconsin narrowed the margin to 72-70 courtesy of a clutch 3-pointer by Blackwell from the right corner with 3:43 left on the clock. Unfortunately, the Badgers couldn’t find the basket over the final minutes, missing their last six field goal attempts.
Key Insights:
For Penn State, this remarkable road triumph marks their first win at Wisconsin in three decades, their last such victory dating back to January 26, 1995, with a score of 78-67 at the UW Field House.
On the Wisconsin side, starting guard Klesmit was absent for the third straight game due to a lower leg injury. Nevertheless, the time off is anticipated to aid his recovery leading up to the Big Ten tournament.
Pivotal Moment:
The game’s momentum swung dramatically when the Nittany Lions concluded the first half with an 8-0 spurt, narrowing the gap to 40-35.
Significant Statistic:
During the second half, the Nittany Lions were on fire, shooting 60% by making 18 of their 30 shots, including a notable 6 of 11 from beyond the arc.
Upcoming Schedule:
Penn State will not be part of the Big Ten Conference tournament, and their season’s continuation will depend on invitations to competitions like the NIT or the College Basketball Crown. Meanwhile, Wisconsin awaits its seeding for the Big Ten tournament.
