Badgers journey Purdue in OT to reach Big 10 final

Mar 16, 2024, 04:44 PM ET

MINNEAPOLIS– Max Klesmit made a runner in the lane with 4.8 seconds to play in overtime and Wisconsin beat Big Ten Tournament top-seed Purdue 76-75 on Saturday for an area in the conference championship game.Klesmit’s clutch shot followed his colleague Chucky Hepburn’s in guideline, when Hepburn made a layup as time ended to require overtime.”Just got an excellent take a look at the end, and it went in,”stated Klesmit, who ended up with 12 points, 5 helps and five rebounds.Hepburn had 22 points and AJ Storr scored 20 for

fifth-seeded Wisconsin (22-12 ). Zach Edey led No. 3 Purdue(29-4)with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

He was the only Boilermaker who scored in double digits.Edey went beyond Rick Mount’s school record of 2,323 profession points (1967-1970 )with about seven minutes remaining in the 2nd half. He finished the game with 2,339 career points.The ruling Big Ten player of the year was limited by foul trouble in the first half and missed an essential free toss late in guideline, but he struck eight straight totally free tosses in overtime and ended up 14 for 19 from the line.The Badgers, who were ranked as high as No. 6 in the country in late January, lost eight of their

last 11 conference games, including a 78-70 defeat at Purdue on March 10. But they have actually put those problems behind them in Minneapolis, with persuading wins over Maryland and Northwestern before knocking off the Boilermakers.”There’s a lot parity in college basketball,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard stated.” You have to not put your head down. … Not pity yourself.”Purdue was attempting to match Michigan State(1999, 2000)as the only Big 10 program to win both the straight-out routine season title and the conference competition in consecutive years. Now the Boilermakers are intending to put to rest the ghosts of last year’s NCAA Tournament, when they were the top seed upset in the preliminary by No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.”We’re concentrated on now. That remains in the past,”Purdue guard Braden Smith said.”I stated it multiple times, they beat us that day, and they played better than us, and I don’t think

it will occur again. We’re all very fired up and prepared for this next approaching week.” Trailing by a point with less than 30 seconds to play in overtime, Hepburn drew an offensive foul on Smith, providing Wisconsin ownership with 21.3 seconds left.As the clock injury down, Klesmit floated a shot that bounced straight up off the rim before dropping through the hoop.Lance Jones missed out on a last-gasp shot from 35 feet as time ended, giving Wisconsin its first win over Purdue in 3 tries

this season.In guideline, the Badgers called a timeout down two points after crossing midcourt with 2.7 seconds staying.

Hepburn captured the inbound pass and cut to the basket, finger-rolling it in as time ended. Edey had just missed the second of 2 complimentary throws with about six seconds to go.Wisconsin’s final belongings in guideline and overtime both came off Purdue turnovers. The Boilermakers turned it over 16 times, compared to just 5 for the Badgers, resulting in a 15-0 edge in points off turnovers for Wisconsin.”It’s type of our magic number, if we get 14, 15, 16, 17 turnovers,

“Painter said.”I know it’s our only fourth loss, but all 4 losses that number is ideal in there. Just got to do a better job across the board taking care of the basketball.” Tempers flared at the start of the game when Edey was required a loose-ball nasty and caught Steven Crowl with an elbow. The two centers stared each other down and exchanged words. Each player was evaluated a technical and Edey went to the bench with 2 fouls.Wisconsin will play Sunday in the conference championship game versus the winner of Saturday’s second

semifinal between Illinois and Nebraska. The Badgers split two games with Nebraska and lost their only match with the Illini this season.Purdue will wait till groups are picked Sunday to learn where it will play in the NCAA Tournament.