John Blackwell posts career-high to help Wisconsin avoid upset vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley

MADISON – The Wisconsin men’s basketball team took the floor Monday trying to follow up an upset victory that vaulted it into the national rankings.

It wasn’t easy.

The Badgers needed scores on eight of their final 10 possessions and a last-second defensive stop to score an 87-84 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley on Monday night at the Kohl Center.

Box score: Wisconsin 87, UT Rio Grande Valley 84

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Sophomore guard John Blackwell scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting while also leading Wisconsin in rebounding (seven) and assists (three). Grad student John Tonje, who was named the Big Ten player of the week earlier in the day for his 41-point night Friday against Arizona, added 19 points and went 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Senior guard Max Klesmit added 11 points with the aid of 6-for-8 free throw shooting.

Wisconsin, which debuted in The Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports Coaches polls Monday at No. 19 and 25, respectively, also needed a defensive stop with 2 seconds to close out the win. Hasan Abdul Hakim, UTRGV’s 6-8 senior guard, missed an off-balance jumper in the lane with senior Kamari McGee covering him.

Blackwell grabbed the rebound, drew a foul and went to the free throw line where he sank two free throws to give the Badgers their final margin of victory.

The victory pushed UW’s record to 5-0 to equal the best start of Greg Gard’s 10 seasons as head coach. The Vaqueros dropped to 3-3 and had their three-game winning streak snapped.

UTRGV, however, came to play. The Vaqueros shot 62% (20 of 32) in the first half, including 47% (8 for 17) from three-point range, and owned a 52-48 lead at halftime.

Buckets were harder to come by for both sides in the second half.

Blackwell was an exception. He scored 20 during the final 20 minutes and hit 7 of 11 shots to help the Badgers withstand a serious upset bid.

“Good teams find a way when things aren’t always clicking and things…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/john-blackwell-posts-career-high-033053702.html

Author : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-11-19 03:30:00

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