Badgers fall in B1G opener

Saturday, December 2

Madison, WI

4 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

3-5, 0-0

Ohio State

6-3, 0-0

Ohio State

Wisconsin

Photo by: Darren Lee

December 02, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

UW can't slow down hot-shooting Buckeyes, fall 83-58

MADISON, Wis. -- The Badgers got behind early and could never recover Saturday in their Big Ten opener. Ohio State shot a blistering 78.3 percent, including 7-for-8 from 3-point range, in the first half in an 83-58 win at the Kohl Center.

The Buckeyes were up 49-26 at halftime, then opened the second half with a 10-2 run that quieted the typically rowdy Kohl Center crowd.

Ohio State hoped for a similar outcome against Wisconsin later Saturday in Indianapolis, where the schools' football teams were facing off in the Big Ten title game.

Freshman Brad Davison had 16 points to lead young Wisconsin (3-5, 0-1), which has lost five of its last six games.

The Badgers have four new starters this season around big man Ethan Happ (seven points, six rebounds). Their problems could be epitomized during a stretch late in the first half in which the Buckeyes double-teamed Happ to force a turnover.

Musa Jallow sprinted down the other end for an easy layup and 20-point lead with 1:15 left.

Defensively, the Badgers gave up too many open looks from the 3-point arc and got overpowered in the lane when the game was still competitive. They were outrebounded 32-18 and outscored in the paint 36-12.

The play of freshman Nathan Reuvers was one of the few bright spots for Wisconsin. He finished with 10 points, hitting two 3-pointers and blocking a shot in 10 minutes.

Keita Bates-Diop had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Kaleb Wesson scored 19 points for Ohio State.

Jae'Sean Tate added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting for Ohio State (6-3, 1-0), which hit 66 percent from the field and led comfortably for most of the afternoon.