MADISON, Wis. — Max Klesmit‘s blazing start put Wisconsin in position to beat Marquette for a third straight season.
His teammates picked up the slack from there as the Badgers used their rebounding superiority to defeat the third-ranked Golden Eagles 75-64 on Saturday. Klesmit scored all 21 of his points in the first half and posted his highest point total since transferring from Wofford before the 2022-23 season.
“(To get) off to a hot start like that, it’s been some time,” Klesmit stated. “Maybe even back to high school. You’ve got to go before Wofford.”
Wisconsin followers stormed the court docket to have a good time the primary three-game profitable streak for both staff within the 130-game collection between two in-state rivals separated by 79 miles. Wisconsin gained 4 straight over Marquette from 1998-2001.
The Badgers by no means trailed, thanks partly to Klesmit‘s fast start. Klesmit shot 6 of 9 overall, 5 of 8 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 on free-throw attempts in the first half as Wisconsin had a 46-33 lead at the break.
“Give Klesmit a lot of credit,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “I like him as a player because he is like: ‘I’m going after it. I don’t care who I’m taking part in in opposition to. I don’t care what anybody says. I’m going to play with a chip on our shoulder.’ Maybe our staff can take a cue from that — watching that — and perhaps we will emulate him.”
PHOTOS: Klesmit’s quick begin, Wisconsin’s rebounding helps Badgers beat No. 3 Marquette 75-64
Klesmit didn’t rating after halftime, when Smart famous Marquette’s defenders “were close enough he could smell our breath.”
Wisconsin nonetheless discovered a strategy to win, thanks partly to its dominance on the glass. Wisconsin outrebounded the Golden Eagles 38-23 and outscored them 18-2 in second-chance factors.
“The coaches have been on Tyler (Wahl) and I and AJ (Storr) — our 3, 4, 5 — about crashing the glass,” stated Steven Crowl, who had 16 factors and a game-high eight rebounds. ”It’s type of proven this season.”
Storr had 13 factors and Wahl 10 for Wisconsin. Kam Jones scored 19 and Tyler Kolek added 11 for Marquette.
After trailing by 16 within the closing seconds of the primary half, Marquette went on a 17-2 run to get the margin down to 1 with 14:46 left within the sport. But the Golden Eagles by no means might seize the lead and didn’t make a basket for greater than seven minutes at one level within the second half, enabling Wisconsin to regain its double-digit benefit.
“When adversity comes, you’ve got to go back and attack it,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard stated. “We didn’t get that deer-in-the-headlight look. I think we responded. Part of that was I think the older guys in the huddle — Tyler, Max, Chucky (Hepburn) — were pretty vocal and got after some guys about how we needed to play, and they responded.”
BIG PICTURE
Marquette: The Golden Eagles maintain digging themselves into early holes throughout these annual matchups with Wisconsin. They trailed by 16 early within the second half final 12 months however rallied to take the lead earlier than Wisconsin finally survived 80-77 in time beyond regulation. “A game like this hurts,” Smart stated. “There were some tears in the locker room, because guys really want to win. You’ve just got to be a big boy and step forward. That goes for everyone.”
Wisconsin: The Badgers proved they may beat staff even when their photographs aren’t falling. Wisconsin gained regardless of going 5 of 20 from 3-point vary, together with 0 for 7 within the second half. Klesmit was the one Badger to make a 3. Wisconsin earned its first win over a top-10 staff since a 74-69 victory at No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 3, 2022.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Marquette doubtless will drop a few spots however might stay within the prime 5 on Monday. Wisconsin didn’t get a single vote on this week’s AP Top 25 ballot, so it’ll take a giant leap for the Badgers to make it into the rankings based mostly on this victory.
UP NEXT
Marquette: Hosts Texas on Wednesday in a Big East/Big 12 Battle matchup. Smart coached Texas from 2015-21.
Wisconsin: Opens its Big Ten schedule by visiting Michigan State on Tuesday.
