Bronson Koenig
The unranked Wisconsin Badgers won for the ninth time in their last ten games, knocking off 8th-ranked Iowa 67-59 at Carver Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin became the first team to knock off the Hawkeyes in Iowa City this season and at ten-and-five in the Big Ten, clinched a winning conference record for the 16th straight season, equaling the longest streak in Big Ten history (Purdue also had a run of 16 straight seasons from 1972-88).
The Badgers (18-10, 10-5 Big Ten) outscored Iowa, eight-to-one, over the final one minute 40 seconds to notch their second road win against a top-10 team this season. It’s the first time Wisconsin has accomplished that since 1955.
The Badgers bench outscored the Hawkeyes bench 23-4. Khalil Iverson and Jordan Hill scored nine points each while Charlie Thomas added five points.
Bronson Koenig scored 15 points to lead the Badgers, while forward Nigel Hayes, made 3 of 11 shots but hit a key three-pointer with 1:40 left to give the Badgers a 62-58 lead.
As a team, the Badgers made 10 of 23 three-pointers (43.5%) and hit 48% of their field goals overall.
On the flip side, the Badgers held Iowa to 33-percent shooting and held the Hawkeyes to a season low of 59 points. It marks the eighth team Wisconsin has held to a season-low point total.
Peter Jok led Iowa with 21 points, but only four came in the second half. Former Badger Jarrod Uthoff was held to 11 points.
The Badgers are now two games behind Indiana and catching them is unlikely. But Wisconsin continued to build its NCAA Tournament resume. The Badgers will host Michigan (20-9, 10-6) on Sunday night at 5 p.m.
AUDIO: Greg Gard on big road wins, Maryland and now Iowa :15
AUDIO: Greg Gard said the defense was good :18
AUDIO: Greg Gard says this win is pretty good :21