National Basketball Association
Wisconsin 73, Green Bay 59
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Where: Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Officials:
# Mike Eades, # Steve McJunkins, # Lamont Simpson
Attendance:
17287
By The Sports Xchange
MADISON, Wis. -- Senior guard Zak Showalter might not get as much attention on opponent's scouting reports as other shooters for No. 14 Wisconsin.
But teams likely will take more notice after Showalter's effort in Wisconsin's 73-59 victory against Green Bay on Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.
Showalter registered 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, drained 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc and had six steals.
"When playing them you've got to pick your poison," Green Bay coach Linc Darner said about the Badgers. "What are you going to give up? We didn't want to give (Showalter) wide-open threes, and he hit them. He came out almost like he knew ... we weren't going to come out and guard him. He just caught it in rhythm."
Senior forward Nigel Hayes scored a game-high 24 points to pace Wisconsin to its sixth consecutive win. The Badgers shot 46.6 percent from the field. Green Bay (4-6) made 40.4 percent of its field-goal attempts.
Badgers sophomore forward Ethan Happ turned in a solid all-around performance, delivering 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Junior forward Kerem Kanter scored a team-high 18 points for Green Bay, which never got closer than seven points in the closing 20 minutes. Junior guard Khalil Small finished with 12 points.
Showalter scored nine first-half points, including back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the Badgers a 22-14 lead.
Showalter felt good about his effort, and said he was happy to have Happ around to help out.
"They doubled down on me every time Ethan caught it so obviously looking at his assists -- six assists to one turnover -- it was just good to see the ball go through and it felt really good tonight," Showalter said.
Showalter and Hayes combined for 12 points during a 14-2 Badgers run, capped by a Hayes 3-pointer that gave Wisconsin a 25-14 advantage.
Kanter scored eight points in the first half for the Phoenix, including a 3-pointer that halted a 5:05 scoring drought. Kanter's basket from the left corner trimmed Wisconsin's advantage to 31-19.
Hayes and Happ combined for 19 first-half points to boost the Badgers to a 31-21 lead at halftime.
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said he thought Showalter was patient and took good shots during the Green Bay game. Schowalter averaged 7.6 points through 12 games.
"When he stays within himself, stays in his lane so to speak, doesn't try to do things he's not capable of -- I think with having him go 4-for-6 from 3-point range," Gard said. "He took what was available and was the recipient of other teammates making good plays.
"Not only assists but whether it was a post feed and drawing extra attention or dribble penetration and a kick, based on how he got the threes, he was a beneficiary of unselfish teammates."
NOTES: The Badgers own a 22-1 record against Green Bay. The only Phoenix win was an 88-84 overtime decision in 2009 at Green Bay. ... Wisconsin senior F Nigel Hayes is the only active NCAA Division I player with at least 1,400 points, 600 rebounds and 200 assists. ... Wisconsin sophomore F Ethan Happ made his first career jumper outside of the paint against Green Bay. It was his first basket outside the paint in 229 career makes.
Top Game Performances
| Green Bay |
|
Wisconsin |
|
Kerem Kanter 18 |
Scoring |
Nigel Hayes 24 |
|
Tevin Findlay 4 |
Assists |
Ethan Happ 6 |
|
Charles Cooper 5 |
Rebounds |
Ethan Happ 10 |
|
Charles Cooper 2 |
Free Throws Made |
Nigel Hayes 7 |
|
Kaharri Carter 1 |
Steals |
Zak Showalter 6 |
|
Tevin Findlay 1 |
Blocks |
Vitto Brown 1 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Green Bay
|
59 |
40.4 |
6-19 |
7-12 |
13 |
29 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
| Wisconsin
|
73 |
46.6 |
5-15 |
14-21 |
18 |
32 |
3 |
13 |
9 |
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