by MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Ethan Happ had 24 points and 13 rebounds, zone-busting guard Bronson Koenigscored 20 points and No. 17 Wisconsin beat No. 22 Syracuse 77-60 on Tuesday night.
Koenig, the seasoned senior guard, was 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and the Badgers (6-2) shot 48 percent overall (11 of 23) from behind the arc against the Orange’s 2/3 zone.
Wisconsin led by as much as 17 in the second half before Syracuse (4-2) went on a 6-0 run capped by John Gillon’s layup with 11:25 left. Two Wisconsin turnovers in that span with Koenig on the bench gave Syracuse the opening.
Coach Greg Gard inserted Koenig back in the game and the Badgers went on a 7-2 run to retake a 16-point lead with 9:24 left.
Andrew White III led Syracuse with 14 points, but went scoreless in the second half. DaJuan Coleman added 12 points.
With deft ball-handlers Happ and Nigel Hayes (nine points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) up front, Syracuse had a tough time guarding the Badgers with the zone.
The 6-foot-8 Hayes found open shooters working from the high post. Happ expertly maneuvered around defenders in the low post for trademark baseline layups. Koenig softened up the zone from the perimeter.
The Orange lost their second straight game after falling to South Carolina in New York on Saturday.
At full strength, the Badgers are a tough matchup for Syracuse. Gard preaches ball movement and the importance of making the extra pass, both keys to playing the zone. Wisconsin’s senior-laden starting lineup also has the experience of facing different looks and pressure situations.
Wisconsin’s tough early-season schedule continues when Oklahoma visits Madison on Saturday.
