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Tenth-placed Wisconsin lost top scorer Johnny Davis when he was injured in a foul foul early in the second half, and the Badgers squandered a shot at a Big Ten title outright in a 74-73 loss to Nebraska on Sunday.
Alonzo Verge Jr. scored Nebraska’s last nine points, part of a 12-0 draw in the final minutes.
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Wisconsin (24-6, 15-5) could still finish alone at the top of the Big Ten if second-placed Illinois loses to Iowa later Sunday. The conference tournament starts on Wednesday.
Davis was injured when Trey McGowans fouled him during a layup attempt with 17:32 left. Davis retired to the locker room and did not return to the bench, with the Badgers saying he was out of action with a lower body injury.
Davis is averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. He scored 10 points before being hit by McGowans, who was ejected.
The Cornhuskers (10–21, 4–16) trailed 71–62 with less than six minutes left before their comeback. Verge put them ahead 74-71 with two free throws with 37 seconds left to finish with 26 points.
Trey McGowans of Nebraska (2) fouls on Johnny Davis of Wisconsin (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, March 6, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin. McGowans was charged with a flagrant foul during the game. Nebraska won 74-73. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Chucky Hepburn hit two of Wisconsin’s three free throws with 19.8 left to cut the deficit to 74-73 when Verge fouled.
CJ. Wilcher missed the front of the bonus for Nebraska, but Hepburn, who beat No. 8 Purdue on Tuesday with a last-second three-pointer, missed a three-pointer forehand and the Huskers secured the rebound.
Nebraska played top scorer Bryce McGowans – Trey’s brother – who is averaging 17 points per game and injured his hand in a win over Ohio State on Tuesday.
Derrick Wacker added 15 points and Wilcher added 10 as the Huskers finished the game with three straight wins.
Brad Davison scored 20 points for Wisconsin, who won five in a row. Tyler Wahl and Chris Vogt added 13 points each.
Wisconsin was 12 behind in the middle of the first half. The Badgers rallied 12–2, taking a 49–47 lead from Davison’s two free throws for a 16:18 finals bonus.
Verge tied him up with leyin, but was called to the tech. Davison hit both free throws to start a straight eight-point streak from the line, giving Wisconsin a 57–49 lead with 13:40 left.
Wisconsin averaged only 8.6 turnovers per game, the fewest in Division I. But the Badgers hit seven in the first 10 minutes, and Nebraska went 30-18 with 12 of 21 shots.
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BIG PICTURE
Nebraska: Nebraska could take 13th place in the conference tournament after the Northwestern’s victory over Minnesota on Sunday night.
Wisconsin: If Illinois wins Sunday, the Badgers will drop to second in the conference tournament. In any case, a lot depends on the status of Davis.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE SURVEY
Although the Badgers finished eighth in the Purdue ratings 70-67 on Tuesday, a loss to Nebraska could hurt their rankings.
NEXT
Nebraska is playing in the first round of the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday.
Wisconsin plays Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament.