Men’s Basketball: Wisconsin endures heartbreak, loses 88–86 to Iowa in overtime.

For the fifth time in six games, the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team fell short in Iowa City, losing by two points against the University of Iowa (15-11).
The final play of overtime was a rollercoaster for the Wisconsin fans, who saw the seconds tick away as point guard Chucky Hepburn fended off Tony Perkins’ drive to the hoop. Hepburn managed to deflect the basketball, and for a little minute, it appeared that the game might go into a second overtime. However, Perkins recovered the lost ball and made the game-winning basket with a second to spare.

It was evident from the start that Saturday’s game would be a physical challenge for the Badgers, with 43 combined personal fouls committed (24 in the second period) and 58 total free throw attempts.
Wisconsin failed to capitalize on its 28 free throw attempts, finishing with only 19 points (67.9%). Six of their nine missed shots came in the final nine minutes of the game, including a pair by Hepburn following a technical penalty on Owen Freeman with the score 74-70 in favor of Iowa.

The Hawkeyes went 24 for 30 (80%) from the line.
Defensively, UW had no answer for Freeman, who led Iowa in points (20), rebounds (12), assists (six), blocks (four), and steals (two) while going 6-for-6 from the floor. The Hawkeyes also received significant contributions from Perkins, who scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, and Josh Dix (17 points on 8-of-11 FG).
Forward Steven Crowl scored a season-high 22 points, and guard AJ Storr added 21 of his own. Hepburn came one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, while guard Max Klesmit overcame a bad shooting day (2-for-10 FG, 0-for-4 3Pt) to record a career-high eight assists.

Crowl’s 22 points propelled him above 1,000 career points, making him the 49th Badger to do so.
Saturday, UW jumped out to a 17-6 lead in just over five minutes thanks to five 3-pointers and six individual points from forwards Nolan Winter and Storr. Their offense was performing exceptionally well, going 12-for-15 from the floor with 11 assists.

Wisconsin led by as many as 13 points midway through the first half, their highest lead in the game, before Iowa responded. The Hawkeyes converted seven of their final nine field goal attempts, outscoring Wisconsin 21-14 in the final 8:30 as the Badgers led 47-43 at the half.

After leading the entire first half, UW gave up the advantage barely two minutes into the second, as Iowa’s offensive barrage continued. The Hawkeyes opened the period by shooting 6-for-9 from the field, but Crowl, who scored seven of the Badgers’ first nine points, kept UW in the game as the lead changed hands seven times within the first five minutes.