by MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nigel Hayes scored 20 points and Vitto Brown added a career-high 18 as Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 72-61 Wednesday night for its sixth consecutive victory.
Brown hit the first of three consecutive 3-pointers for the Badgers (15-9, 7-4 Big Ten) as they took the lead for good with a 13-2 spurt midway through the first half. The junior forward made 6 of 7 field goals, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range, and grabbed five rebounds.
Wisconsin shot 11-for-18 from 3-point range, its best effort of the season. Brown, Bronson Koenig and Zak Showalter combined to shoot 8-for-9 on 3-pointers.
Freshman Glynn Watson Jr. scored 16 points to lead the Cornhuskers (13-12, 5-7), who were without second-leading scorer Shavon Shields. The senior guard/forward, who had made 106 consecutive starts, missed the game after suffering a head injury against Rutgers on Saturday.
Hayes missed three of his first four shots from the field as Nebraska built an early lead, but the Badgers rallied when their leading scorer settled in. He finished 7 of 14 from the field.
Brown helped pick up the slack for freshman forward Ethan Happ, who had an off night. The Big Ten’s leader in double-doubles finished with just two points and three rebounds. His only points came at the free throw line with 6:17 left in the game; it was the first time all year he had been held without a field goal.
Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation) added 12 points for Wisconsin and Showalter chipped in 10.
