Badgers Stop Spartans 77-64
January 10, 2004 | Men's Basketball
The No. 21 Wisconsin men's basketball team remained undefeated in conference games at home under Bo Ryan as they soared past the Michigan State Spartans 77-64 before 17,142 ecstatic fans Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
Devin Harris led all scorers with 21 points. Harris, one of the best all-around players in the country, is one of three players in the country averaging at least 16.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game according to STATS, Inc.
Boo Wade set a career-high with 15 points, hitting 6-of-8 from the field. Wade also grabbed six rebounds. Zach Morley added 13 points and had a career-high four steals.
After Michigan State started the game by hitting its first eight shots Wisconsin battled back by holding the Spartans scoreless more than six minutes. Down 17-5 with 15:03 remaining in the half, the Badgers began a 10-minute, 24-5 run to put them ahead 29-22. UW held the lead for the remainder of the game as it was on its way to a 41-31 advantage headed into the break.
Clayton Hanson paced the Badgers' first-half comeback with nine points, going 3-for-3 from the field.
With 15:30 remaining in the game, the Spartans pulled within seven at 48-41 after a pair of free throws by Chris Hill, but that was the closest they would come to the Badgers. Wisconsin sealed the victory with an 11-2 run midway through the half that gave the Badgers an 18-point advantage with less than six minutes remaining. The Spartans charged back with a 7-1 run, but that was not enough as the UW won its third straight over Michigan State.
Wisconsin's 77 point-performance marks the first time in the last 16 meetings that either team has scored more than 70 points.
The Badgers capitalized on their 10 offensive rebounds as they scored 15 second-chance points, while Michigan State scored five in its second-chance opportunities.
The Badgers, who hit 24-of-35 from the charity stripe in the contest, are attempting to make more free throws than their opponents have shot for the second consecutive season. Wisconsin has made 229 free throws this season, compared to just 121 for their opponents.
The Badgers take a road trip to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday, Jan 18. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
Wisconsin Men's Basketball Post-Game Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State ' Jan. 10, 2004
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo
Opening statement:
'There were a few things that I was pleased with and a few things that I was disappointed with. We were off to a great start. I thought we played some of our best defense early, forget the offensive part of it. We were active, we were digging, we were getting turnovers. I thought we were playing with some aggressiveness and then we got a little tired and we got into a little foul trouble. We made some substitutions and I think it hurt us, but I think in Paul's (Davis) case we had no choice. And then we just made some turnovers that led directly to some baskets in that one stretch. I think Shannon (Brown) struggled a little bit and Tim Bograkos had two critical ones that led to lay-ups and he doesn't make many mistakes.'
On not being able to get to the free throw line as much as he had hoped:
'I was really frustrated with that today. I thought there was a lot of physical play inside. I was hoping to have Antonio and (Jason) Andreas there because I thought it was knick-knack on one end and not on the other, but that's my opinion and my impression. I think that they do a great job with their bodies ' hands are always up, bodies are always hitting. They really do a good job of that and we didn't handle it well.'
On Wisconsin's taking advantage of the play in the post:
'We're missing a couple of guys and yet that 's no excuse for why you turn the ball over and why you can't cut out and make some plays, and Wisconsin is good at that. I think that Wisconsin does a lot of things that we did. They do go to the offensive boards. Morley is really going to be a good player. I like him. He can do a lot of things, he always makes you aware. He hit that big three (pointer) to start the second half on a nice play. So, it's not Michigan State basketball and part of it has been the defections, part of it is the players we that we have aren't playing to the level they need to play.'
Wisconsin Head Coach Bo Ryan
On winning by a combined 50 points over Indiana and Michigan State:
'I never think about the points, but you know what it also has on that schedule' Michigan State and Indiana away at the end of the season, somebody told me. But I'm not thinking about that yet. We just' we 're fortunate to take care of business here at home. We haven't been home to start [the Big Ten season] the last couple of years so it was nice to start at home here. But I've never' when you say what do you expect, which I don 't know, I don't have a crystal ball. But I know every day on the practice floor, if those guys are working hard, I know we have a chance.'
On the early comeback:
'Grit. They didn't get down. I hate to even look at it as a comeback, but I guess that's the term you have to put out. We just started to execute and we'I can remember teaching one of my kids to drive a stick shift and boy, that's what it sounded like out there today. Just grinding gears and not getting a whole lot'not going anywhere, and finally, we just got things 'let the clutch out, put it in gear and it was nice to see.'
