Freddie Owens scored 19 points and Kirk Penney added 18 as Wisconsin defeated in-state rival UW-Green Bay 69-52 Wednesday in front of a UW-GB record crowd of 9,705 in the opening game at the Resch Center. The Badgers used a 12-2 run over the final 2:34 to break open a tight game.
A three-pointer by UW-Green Bay’s Kevin Hughes cut UW’s lead to 57-50 with 3:11 left in the game. Penney answered with a tough, running jumper and the Badgers held UW-GB on its next possession. Owens then made one of two free throws.
The Phoenix’s Greg Babcock scored down low, accounting for UW-GB’s final points of the game, with 1:18 left. Freshman Alando Tucker scored on a driving layup and was fouled, completing a three-point play. The Badgers then went 6-6 from the free-throw line to ice the game. The Badgers jumped out to an early 11-2 lead, but a 9-0 UW-GB run knotted the game.
Green Bay’s Brandon Hanson hit a jumper to put the Phoenix up 21-20 with 5:39 left in the first half, Green Bay’s second and final lead of the game. A 12-5 run by Wisconsin, including a layup and dunk by Tucker, gave the Badgers a 32-36 halftime lead. In the second half, UW-Green Bay never got closer than five points.
Point guard Devin Harris joined Owens and Penney in double figures, scoring 12 points and adding six rebounds and four steals. The Badgers made 17-22 free throws, including 9-10 by Owens, while UW-Green Bay was just 2-4 from the line. Wisconsin also turned the ball over only seven times compared to 17 turnovers for the Phoenix.
— compiled from staff reports
