In a game where two rivals traded leads down to the final 0.9 seconds, Wisconsin fell 67-65 at the buzzer to Marquette for their first loss of the young season.
The first half was an ugly offensive display from a Badger team that was in serious foul trouble. Micah Potter, Nate Reuvers, and Brad Davison all picked up two first half fouls and were forced to the pine early. In the half court, there were stretches where, partially as a result of the bigs in foul trouble, UW couldn’t find the paint. As a result of a few sloppy first half turnovers and slow developing offense, Marquette jumped out to a five-point advantage at the break.
The half court defense wasn’t an issue, but holding a balanced scoring attack from Marquette down when you can’t find rhythm on the opposite end is a difficult task. The Golden Eagles took advantage of early offense and Wisconsin sloppiness throughout the first 20 minutes.
The second half was a roller coaster of runs from both teams that culminated in multiple lead changes throughout the final three minutes. After Ohio State transfer D.J. Carton put the Golden Eagles up two with just over a minute left, Aleem Ford hit a clutch three to put Wisconsin back up by a point. The two teams traded layups, and the Badgers had a chance for the final shot while trailing by one.
A ridiculously tough D’Mitrik Trice one-legged jumper put the Badgers on top with five seconds to play, but was quickly followed by the Wisconsin point guard inexplicably attempting to draw a charge on Carton and being called for a blocking foul.
After a make to tie the game, the second free throw bounced high off the rim to the outstretched arm of Justin Lewis for a buzzer-beating Marquette tip-in for the win.
It felt all evening like the Golden Eagles were the team that brought consistent energy. The Badgers had long stretches of non-existent offense and lost the battle inside to the first formidable front line they have faced this year.
The bright spots offensively wearing red were freshman Johnny Davis and Trice. Davis finished with 12, scoring in a variety of ways and getting to the line twice. Trice was the initiator down the stretch, and made a beautiful dime to Reuvers and a tough jumper during Wisconsin’s final two possessions respectively.
It could be boiled down to a tip-in and Potter being initially pushed off of his spot by Lewis, but this loss was deserved for stretches of offense in the first half that built a five-point deficit at the break. Still, even with a performance from a pair of seniors in Potter and Davison that is not up to their standards, the Badgers had a chance to steal one in Milwaukee. A pair of mistakes in the final five seconds sent Wisconsin packing.