TheWolverine.com - Instant Recap: Badgers' prayer answered in 65-62 OT win

February 9, 2013

Chris Balas
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor

Michigan fell behind on the road again, by as many as nine in the first half, before rallying to take a one-point halftime lead at Wisconsin. Missed opportunities, though, and a contested, halfcourt prayer from Wisconsin's Ben Brust that tied it and sent it to overtime led the Badgers to an improbable, 65-62 win.

The Wolverines fell behind 15-9, struggled from long range and to finish inside - especially Jon Horford, who had a number of opportunities early. Wisconsin hit three of its first five triples while sophomore point guard Trey Burke had a hard time penetrating against Wisconsin's switching defense, one that seemed intent on taking away U-M's three-point looks.

Max Bielfeldt and Glenn Robinson III both had opportunities to finish inside but couldn't, but Burke hit a triple to make it 15-12 at the 11-minute mark. Wisconsin continued to shoot lights out, 53 percent at the 12-minute mark, while U-M struggled to defend the three-point line. That Badgers notched 21 points in the first 12 minutes, and to add insult to injury, freshman Glenn Robinson III gave up an offensive rebound and putback on a missed free throw and to allow the Badgers to go up nine, 23-14, before Horford finally finished a nice pass from freshman Nik Stauskas.

That fueled a Michigan run. Hardaway hit a 17-foot jumper at 6:30 to make it 24-18, freshman Mitch McGary hit a jumper on a pass from Stauskas hit a triple at 4:55 from Hardaway in transition to cut the lead to one.

Redshirt freshman Max Bielfeldt gave Michigan solid minutes inside and freshman Spike Albrecht also played well during U-M's run, one that helped them take a 30-29 lead into the break.

Second Half

Michigan had a chance to start strong, but Hardaway missed a short jumper and Robinson an easy follow. Wisconsin scored the first five points before Burke drove and finished off the glass.

McGary didn't miss his opportunity to finish a Hardaway miss, slamming one home, but Wisconsin made four of its first five second half shots to take a 37-33 lead.

Robinson scored four straight, on a drive and reverse and in transition from Burke, to tie it at 15:40. Burke gave Michigan the lead back with a triple at 14:50, making it 40-39.

McGary followed another Wisconsin triple with a 14-foot jumper to tie it again, and Burke knocked down a jumper to make it 44-42 after two missed Badgers triples.

The teams traded baskets before Burke made one free throw at 12:08 - U-M's first attempts of the game - to put Michigan back up by one, 45-44. The Wolverines missed a few chances to open it up, though, including a wide open triple from LeVert at 11:15.

Two Hardaway jumpers gave Michigan a four-point lead, one that expanded to six at 6:30, before Wisconsin's Sam Dekker nailed a three that cut the lead in half.

A 5-0 Wisconsin run cut it to one at 3:30, setting up another frenetic finish. Michigan's next possessions included a step back 27-footer and a Burke miss in transition. The Wolverines went six minutes without a bucket, missing six field goal attempts in a row before Burke finally hit a jumper at 1:05 to make it 57-54.

A Badgers drive and slam, and-one, tied it and gave Michigan one more chance to win it with 28.3 seconds remaining. Wisconsin, with only three team fouls, had three to give - instead Hardaway hit a triple from the top sliding left with 2.4 seconds remaining.

Ben Brust ripped their hearts out with a contested three just inside of halfcourt to send it to overtime.

Overtime

Wisconsin scored first inside, but Hardaway answered with a drive and finish. Mitch McGary notched a key steal but missed the layup with 1:45 remaining.

Brust hit another contest triple after Stauskas was raked, losing a rebound out of bounds, and Hardaway missed a drive on the other end with 23.2 seconds remaining. The Badgers missed the front end of a one-and-one with 13 seconds remaining, but Burke's triple attempt went in and out with two seconds remaining, securing the Badgers' 65-62 win.

Burke scored 19, Hardaway 18 and McGary 12 for the Wolverines. Redshirt junior Jordan Morgan didn't play due to his ankle injury.

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