November 25, 2024

Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation) Scores 15 points as Badgers come up short to Indiana, 58-59

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell scored 19 points and O.G. Anunoby added 11 to lead Indiana past Wisconsin 59-58 on Tuesday.

The Hoosiers (13-3, 3-0 Big Ten) have won eight straight, beating the Badgers for only the second time since 2007.

Wisconsin (9-7, 1-2) was led by Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation) and Nigel Hayes who scored 15 points on a night full of offensive struggles. At one point in the second half, the Badgers went more than eight minutes without a basket — and yet they still managed to hang around.

Indiana finally took the lead when Ferrell and Anunoby broke a 34-34 tie with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Wisconsin tied the score at 53 on two free throws from Hayes with 52.4 seconds to go.

Ferrell answered with a 13-foot jumper and sealed the win with four free throws in the final 13.7 seconds — barely enough after Wisconsin hit a buzzer-beating 3.

It was a strange night.

Indiana won despite finishing with a season-low scoring total. The Hoosiers’ previous low came in a 72-69 loss to UNLV.

The rugged second half started with the teams going 6 for 22 with 16 combined points. For nearly four minutes, the score was tied at 34.

And even when the Hoosiers’ 3-point shooters warmed up just long enough to regain the lead, they still couldn’t the Badgers away until the final minute.

The first half was much better.

Indiana jumped to a 13-7 lead, then watched the Badgers answer with 15 straight points to make it 22-13.

But the Hoosiers made a late push, using an 11-2 spurt to get within 25-24 before Jordan Hill hit a wide open 3-pointer to make it 28-24 at the half.