Wisconsin still leads the all-time series, but for now, the Marquette Golden Eagles have grabbed bragging rights with a 57-55 win over the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on Saturday.
Henry Ellenson had 15 points and eleven rebounds and Luke Fischer had 12 points and scored a put-back basket with 27 seconds left to help Marquette hold off a late Wisconsin rally.
The Badgers won the rebound battle, but after the Badgers fouled Haanif Cheatham who missed the front end of the bonus and the 6’11 Fischer pulled down the offensive rebound to avoid giving the Badgers any kind of last second game winning shot attempt.
The Golden Eagles (8-2) won their seventh straight game and this one gave them bragging rights over their rivals to the West.
Marquette built a 14-point lead in the second half, but the Badgers were able to draw even late. Vitto Brown had 15 points to lead Wisconsin (6-5). The Badgers fifth loss is already more than they had all of last year when they finished 36-4.
Ethan Happ added 12 points and guard Zak Showalter had ten points and ten rebounds.
Nigel Hayes finished four of 18 from the field, scoring just ten points.
Marquette hosts Chicago State on Dec. 21. Wisconsin hosts Texas A & M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday.
AUDIO: Steve Wojciechowski on the win :15
AUDIO: Henry Ellenson says they wanted to show who the best team is in the state :12
AUDIO: Bo Ryan on his team shooting just four free throws :20