Nigel Hayes
Wisconsin fans celebrated as the 2015 Final Four banner was raised to the rafters of the Kohl Center. The celebration was supposed to continue, but Western Illinois had other ideas.
The Leathernecks, who finished last in the Summit League last season, stunned the 17th ranked Badgers, pulling out a 69-67 upset victory at the Kohl Center.
Western Illinois shot 77.8-percent from three point range (7 of 9) and 54-percent from the field overall. J.C. Fuller scored 20 points and Garret Covington added 16 (14 second half) to lead Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks trailed at halftime 44-37. Covington hit two free throws with 10.2 seconds left and Bronson Koenig missed a short jumper from the left wing that would have forced overtime.
Koenig and forward Nigel Hayes both scored 17 points, but the Badgers went cold in the second half. Hayes didn’t score in the second half.
Wisconsin missed 20 of 24 field goal attempts in the second half and finished 35-percent from the field for the game. They made seven of 21 from three-point range and 16 of 25 from the free throw line.
Wisconsin will host Siena Sunday (7pm). Siena fell to Duke 92-74.
AUDIO: Nigel Hayes on the loss :16
AUDIO: Bo Ryan on his teams struggles :17