Hayes' 32 not enough, Milwaukee snaps 22-game skid vs. Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter has had a prime seat to watch what Bo Ryan's teams like to do to opponents.
On Wednesday, he proved he took good notes.
Jeter, who played for Ryan at Division III Platteville and then spent a decade as one of his assistants, turned the tables on his mentor as Milwaukee beat Wisconsin 68-67, snapping a 22-game losing streak to the Badgers.
''Tonight, we played the game the way he taught me to play it,'' said Jeter, who coached with Ryan at Platteville, Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
Milwaukee trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half. But the Panthers' formula down the stretch for was familiar for anyone who's watched Ryan's teams. Milwaukee (7-3) held the Badgers (6-4) to just one field goal and four free throws over a 10-possession stretch during the final minutes. Milwaukee, meanwhile, was 6 for 6 from the line over the final 3 minutes, drew a key charge and withstood a furious final push from the Badgers.
''In order to get to the free-throw line, you've got to attack the rim. You've got to attack the post,'' Jeter said. ''That's who we want to be. That's who we were tonight.''
Nigel Hayes led Wisconsin with a career-high 32 points and at times seemed to carry the team as most of his teammates struggled shooting from the field. But he missed a pair of free throws that could have tied the game with less than 25 seconds left.
Akeem Springs hit a pair of free throws on the other end to put Milwaukee up 68-64 only to see Bronson Koenig answer with a 3 that pulled Wisconsin within one with 13.4 seconds left.
Wisconsin went to a full-court press and got one last chance after Milwaukee's J.J. Panoske was called for traveling. But Koenig's 3-point attempt was off, and Milwaukee players rushed the court after the buzzer sounded.
Jordan Johnson, who was helped off the court after the final play, scored 22 points, while Matt Tiby scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which last beat the Badgers on Dec. 12, 1992. Jeter said he did not know Johnson's status immediately after the game.
Koenig finished with 16 points for Wisconsin, while Ethan Happ added 10 points and 15 rebounds. But while Hayes and Happ combined to shoot 12 of 24 from the field, the rest of the Badgers hit just 8 of 31. That includes 5 of 16 for Koenig.
Ryan said the Badgers simply failed to connect, shooting 29 percent in the second half. He also questioned some of his players' decision-making, noting 6-foot-9 forward Vitto Brown decided in the final minutes to take the ball the length of the court and try a one-on-one move that resulted in a charge with the Badgers down 66-64.
''How often have you seen that? I don't have a number for that one. There's no call,'' Ryan said
Koenig said he probably should have tried to drive on that final possession knowing Wisconsin was in the double bonus. But he noted it was an open look.
''I hit that nine out of 10 times. It was just short,'' Koenig said. ''If that shot goes two more inches, we'd be celebrating right now. But that doesn't hide the flaws of the whole game.''
TIP-INS
Wisconsin: Wednesday was the first of three games for the Badgers vs. the other three in-state Division I programs. Following Saturday's game against Marquette, the Badgers will host Green Bay on Dec. 23, their final nonconference game. ... Among nonconference opponents, Milwaukee is the only school Wisconsin has faced more than Marquette (121). The Badgers are now (31-2) all-time vs. the Panthers, who Ryan coached for two seasons before becoming the Badgers' head coach in 2001.
Milwaukee: Jeter's playing days for Ryan at UW-Platteville from 1987-91 included captaining the school's national championships team his final year. ... JayQuan McCloud, who transferred to Milwaukee from Murray State following the first semester last year, has been declared eligible by the NCAA and was available to play against the Badgers. He was 0 for 3 with three fouls.
WHAT'S NEXT
Wisconsin hosts Marquette Saturday.
Milwaukee hosts Judson Sunday.
