MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin men's basketball team earned itself another Big Ten win, edging out rival Minnesota for a 63-60 victory at home on Tuesday night.
It marked the sixth-straight win for the Badgers (11-2, 3-0 Big Ten), who now sit atop the early Big Ten standings.
Junior forward Steven Crowl led the way offensively for UW, scoring a team-high 17 points. The big man shot 8-for-13 from the floor, while adding five rebounds and two steals.
Sophomore guard Chucky Hepburn scored 16 points, grabbed a career-high five steals and added four assists.
Freshman guard Connor Essegian rounded out double-digit scorers for Wisconsin, finishing the night with 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals.
UW took a 32-26 lead into the break at halftime.
Despite senior leading scorer Tyler Wahl missing the entire second half due to injury, the Badgers held off the upset bid from the Gophers.
Next up, Wisconsin heads out on the road to face Illinois on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
TEAM NOTES
- Wisconsin moved to 11-2 on the season, marking the second straight season. Last year the Badgers opened the season with a mark of 15-2.
- The Badgers improved to 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since the 2014-15 Big Ten championship season.
- UW improved to 341-62 (.846) all-time at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin is 91-25 (.784) at the Kohl Center under Greg Gard.
- The Badgers won their fifth-straight game over Minnesota and now own a 106-104 advantage in the all-time series with the Gophers.
- Wisconsin has won 14 of the last 16 games against the Gophers dating back to 2014.
- UW is now 10-2 against the Gophers under Greg Gard.
- The Badgers posted a season-high 13 steals and the team's most since having 13 vs. Illinois on Feb. 27, 2021.
- UW finished with nine turnovers, marking its sixth game with single-digit giveaways.
