by MADISON, Wis. — Frank Kaminsky scored 22 points in his return from a concussion that sidelined him a game to help No. 7 Wisconsin beat Nebraska 70-55 on Thursday night.
Kaminsky was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 overall after missing the Badgers’ loss at Rutgers on Sunday night. In the first half, Kaminsky blocked Leslee Smith from behind on a drive to the basket, gathered the loose ball, sprinted the length of the court and floated an alley-oop to Sam Dekker.
It was the first full game for the Badgers without starting point guard Traevon Jackson, who injured his ankle Sunday. Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation) filled in well with 11 points for the Badgers (16-2, 4-1 Big Ten). Nigel Hayes scored 13 points, and Dekker added 11.
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Terran Petteway led Nebraska (10-7, 2-3) with 27 points. He had 20 in the first half.
The Nebraska forward hit eight of his first 11 shots. Wisconsin switched defenders on picks set for Petteway, and he repeatedly took advantage of the bigger post players that ended up guarding him, either driving them to the hoop or stepping back for a jumper.
He didn’t get much help, though. The rest of the team shot 10 of 30.
Nebraska played Wisconsin tight early on. But the referees called a technical foul in the closing seconds of the first half as coach Tim Miles argued following a Kaminsky shot in the lane. Josh Gasser hit one of the two free throws to put the Badgers up 37-27 at the break, their biggest lead to that point.
Nebraska was able to cut the lead to four early in the second half. But the Badgers blew the game open with a 13-0 run that included a four-point play as Duje Dukan was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer and then converted the free throw.
