Badgers Outlast Eastern Kentucky 95-89 in Double Overtime
November 19, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Junior Alando Tucker reeled off a career-high 38 points and had a double-double with 10 rebounds, as the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team defeated Eastern Kentucky 95-89 (2OT) in the second round of the Paradise Jam tournament Saturday night at the Sports and Fitness Center.
Kammron Taylor hit a three-point basket with 3.3 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the game at 78-78 and send the game into another overtime. UW (2-0) then made 5-of-6 free throws over the final 45 seconds while allowing just one basket to win its second straight.
Taylor finished with 15 points, Marcus Landry had 19 points and eight rebounds and Brian Butch totaled 10 points.
Matt Witt scored 25 points to lead the Colonels (0-1), who were outrebounded 44-34. Alonzo Hird added 18 points, and Mike Rose had 14.
'(The game) was very competitive, everything was hard fought,' head coach Bo Ryan said. 'I thought offensively ' we were very productive.'
Wisconsin found itself trailing most of the first half and its eight turnovers didn't help its cause. But Tucker kept fighting and made two straight baskets to finally put the Badgers ahead 27-26 with 3:47 left.
Eastern Kentucky, though, shot well from the floor, making 12-of-22 (.545) field goals to overcome its 11 fouls and take a 32-31 halftime lead.
The two teams played closely in the next frame and were knotted at 66-66 with 16 seconds showing on the clock. Tucker had a chance to win the game, but he missed a tough shot from the foul line as time expired.
UW found itself trailing 76-75 with 11 seconds left in the first overtime. After EKU's Matt Witt missed both of his free throws, Michael Brock was fouled on the rebound and sank both his foul shots.
That's when Taylor made one of his five long-range buckets to rally the Badgers.
With the victory, along with the triumph over Norfolk State, Wisconsin will play in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. CT Monday. The opponent will be determined after Sunday's third round.
