Any chances Wisconsin has at a Big Ten title are pretty much up in smoke after the Badgers fell to Iowa 67-66 in Iowa City on Thursday night.
Iowa senior Matt Gatens hit 7 of his 10 shots from distance and 12 of 18 overall, scoring 33 points to lead the Hawkeyes to victory.
Gatens’ 33 points were the most by a UW opponent since Stephen Curry scored 33 for Davidson in the 2008 NCAA Sweet 16.
AUDIO: Ben Brust on Iowa’s Matt Gatens :14
The Badgers (20-8, 9-6) fell three games behind first-place Michigan State with three games left to play. Wisconsin’s next game is at Ohio State on Sunday.
The Badgers were sloppy with the ball again, especially in the first half when they committed 11 of them. Iowa shot 57% in the first half and built a 9 point lead at the break.
The Badgers had little answer for Gatens, who torched them from all over during the game. By the time the Badgers found a way to slow him down late, it was too late.
Josh Gasser and Ryan Evans had 14 points each to lead the Badgers.