Wisconsin Basketball: Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig Shine in Win over Michigan State

The Wisconsin basketball team earned a big victory Sunday

The Wisconsin Badgers relied on stars Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig in a 77-76 victory over the No. 4 Michigan State Spartans on Sunday afternoon in the Kohl Center. The duo combined for 52 points on 15 of 29 shooting from the field and 16 of 17 from the free-throw line.

The Wisconsin basketball team lost some big-time talent from last year’s squad, and fans expected big seasons from juniors Hayes and Koenig, who each played significant roles on back-to-back Final Four teams.

The two knew they would be relied on heavily, especially offensively. Playing efficiently while being looked at as the team’s two leading scorers has been a slow process for Hayes and Koenig. During some games Hayes would have a big day, while Koenig struggled and vice-versa.

Following last week’s 70-65 defeat to the Northwestern Wildcats, another close loss to a good opponent, Hayes called out himself and his team out, knowing the Badgers need to start winning these close games.

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On Sunday, the Badgers responded and received great games from their two best players during big moments of the game.

After taking a 68-63 lead with 7:09 left, the Badgers went cold from the floor, and a familiar feeling arose in the Kohl Center. Wisconsin kept pace with Michigan State throughout the game until another dreaded field-goal drought crushed the Badgers’ momentum.

The Badgers went 6 minutes, 41 seconds without a field goal, and during the skid, Wisconsin missed five shots from the floor and turned the ball over three times as the Spartans went on a 13-4 run for a 76-72 Michigan State lead with 1:53 left.

Following a turnover from Vitto Brown, Wisconsin made a defensive stop, and Koenig made a big-time play to keep the Badgers alive. He stepped up and knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 76-75 with 28 seconds left. Michigan State guard Eron Harris was trapped in the corner and stepped out of bounds with 22 seconds left to give the Badgers the ball back with a chance to win.

Koenig drove and found a wide-open Ethan Happ for the game-winning layup with 10 seconds left to put the Badgers ahead 77-76. Denzel Valentine‘s 3-pointer was off the mark, and Matt Costello missed a jumper that may have been shot after the buzzer had sounded anyways.

In a much-needed victory, Wisconsin improved to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten. Beating fourth-ranked Michigan State gave the Badgers a big win in a close game after losing seven games by six points or less.

Koenig finished with a game-high and career-high 27 points on 8 of 15 shooting, including 4 of 8 from three-point range, and made all seven free throws with four assists, a steal and just one turnover. Hayes scored 25 points on 7 of 14 shooting, 2 of 3 from deep, and 9 of 10 from the line.

The Badgers had been struggling in both getting to the free-throw line and making free throws. Michigan State dominated inside, out-rebounding the Badgers 35-25 and outscored Wisconsin in the paint 34-20, but it was the free throws that were a big difference for the Badgers, who shot 36 free throws and made 29 of them.

In addition to making the game-winning shot, Happ scored 14 points, eight of which came from free throws, with eight rebounds.

In an entertaining first half, both teams played well offensively. Wisconsin played aggressively, which resulted in 15 Michigan State fouls, and the Badgers converted on 16 of 19 free throws in the opening half.