Badgers come up short against Villanova

(UW ATHLETICS) MILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin men’s basketball team fell to Villanova, 76-66 in overtime on Friday night at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, despite a second-half comeback attempt by the Badgers. 

Nolan Winter led UW (7-4, 1-1 B1G) with a double-double and a career-high 23 points. The junior added 11 boards, while shooting an efficient 9-of-11 from the field, including four three-pointers. It’s his sixth double-double of the season, and the ninth of his career. His last-minute layup tied the game in regulation, ultimately forcing overtime thanks to a Badger defensive stop on the ensuing possession. 

Nick Boyd finished with a well-balanced 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, notching two steals on the defensive end as well. John Blackwell led the second-half charge with 14 points, shooting 5-for-7 during the interval. 

The Badger defense came alive in the second-half, allowing just 21 points and 8-of-29 shooting from the Wildcats. Bucky sparked a 7-0 run into the 12-minute media timeout, and a 9-0 spurt into the eight-minute media break to claw back from a 15-point deficit in regulation, before ultimately falling in the final period. Winter was essential in those stretches with a three-pointer and two blocks.

Up Next: UW returns to the Kohl Center to take on Central Michigan on Monday. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on BTN.