In the last regular-season game, the Boilermakers defeat the Badgers.
The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team fell to the third-ranked Purdue Boilermakers 70-78 on Sunday at West Lafayette during their last regular season game.
Wisconsin entered this game fresh off a much-needed home victory over Rutgers, where the Badgers guards turned in a spectacular performance on senior night.
Zach Edey, a 7-foot-4 forward for Purdue, was taken aback when he saw his jersey number hanging in the Mackey Arena rafters just before the game started. This summer, Edey intends to declare for the NBA draft.
Boilermakers guards Fletcher Loyer and Edey combined for 23 points in the first half, and Wisconsin found it difficult to contain them early on.
Throughout the game, Badgers forwards Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter made an effort to guard Edey, and eventually removed from the game by a foul. Despite only trying 14 free throws, Edey scored 25 points; Crowl and Winter were scoreless during the contest.
John Blackwell played brilliantly for Wisconsin, tying his season-high single-game point total of 18 (the last time he scored that many was on Nov. 17 against Robert Morris), despite their challenges stopping Edey.
Tyler Wahl, a forward, and guard AJ Storr of the Badgers both showed up to play and scored 17 points apiece. Wahl pulled down ten rebounds to complete with a double-double.
With 9:39 remaining in the game, Wisconsin could only close the gap to four points, but Purdue’s unwavering lead held firm. But any chance of a Badger victory was dashed a few minutes later when Purdue extended their advantage to double digits.
After the regular season finale, the Badgers travel to Minnesota for the Big Ten Tournament. They take on either Maryland or Rutgers in their opening match on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
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