Klesmit's fast start, Wisconsin's rebounding help Badgers beat No. 3 Marquette 75-64
AP
Dec 03, 2023
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Max Klesmit's blazing start put Wisconsin Badgers in position to beat Marquette Golden Eagles for a third straight season.
His teammates picked up the slack from there as the Badgers used their rebounding superiority to defeat the third-ranked Golden Eagles 75-64 on Saturday. Klesmit scored all 21 of his points in the first half and posted his highest point total since transferring from Wofford before the 2022-23 season.
"(To get) off to a hot start like that, it's been a while,” Klesmit said. “Maybe even back to high school. You've got to go before Wofford.”
Wisconsin fans stormed the court to celebrate the first three-game winning streak for either team in the 130-game series between two in-state rivals separated by 79 miles. Wisconsin won four straight over Marquette from 1998-2001.
The Badgers never trailed, thanks in part to Klesmit's fast start. Klesmit shot 6 of 9 overall, 5 of 8 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 on free-throw attempts in the first half as Wisconsin had a 46-33 lead at the break.
“Give Klesmit a lot of credit,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “I like him as a player because he is like: ‘I’m going after it. I don't care who I'm playing against. I don't care what anyone says. I'm going to play with a chip on our shoulder.' Maybe our team can take a cue from that - watching that - and maybe we can emulate him.”
Klesmit didn't score after halftime, when Smart noted Marquette's defenders “were close enough he could smell our breath.”
Wisconsin still found a way to win, thanks in part to its dominance on the glass. Wisconsin outrebounded the Golden Eagles 38-23 and outscored them 18-2 in second-chance points.
“The coaches have been on Tyler (Wahl) and I and AJ (Storr) - our 3, 4, 5 - about crashing the glass,” said Steven Crowl, who had 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds. ”It's kind of shown this season."
Storr had 13 points and Wahl 10 for Wisconsin. Kam Jones scored 19 and Tyler Kolek added 11 for Marquette.
After trailing by 16 in the closing seconds of the first half, Marquette went on a 17-2 run to get the margin down to one with 14:46 left in the game. But the Golden Eagles never could grab the lead and failed to make a basket for more than seven minutes at one point in the second half, enabling Wisconsin to regain its double-digit advantage.
“When adversity comes, you've got to go back and attack it,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “We didn't get that deer-in-the-headlight look. I think we responded. Part of that was I think the older guys in the huddle - Tyler, Max, Chucky (Hepburn) - were pretty vocal and got after some guys about how we needed to play, and they responded.”
BIG PICTURE
Marquette: The Golden Eagles keep digging themselves into early holes during these annual matchups with Wisconsin. They trailed by 16 early in the second half last year but rallied to take the lead before Wisconsin ultimately survived 80-77 in overtime. “A game like this hurts,” Smart said. “There were some tears in the locker room, because guys really want to win. You've just got to be a big boy and step forward. That goes for everyone.”
Wisconsin: The Badgers proved they could beat a good team even when their shots aren't falling. Wisconsin won despite going 5 of 20 from 3-point range, including 0 for 7 in the second half. Klesmit was the only Badger to make a 3. Wisconsin earned its first win over a top-10 team since a 74-69 victory at No. 3 Purdue on Jan. 3, 2022.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Marquette likely will drop a couple of spots but could remain in the top five on Monday. Wisconsin didn't get a single vote in this week's AP Top 25 poll, so it will take a big leap for the Badgers to make it into the rankings based on this victory.
UP NEXT
Marquette: Hosts Texas on Wednesday in a Big East/Big 12 Battle matchup. Smart coached Texas from 2015-21.
Wisconsin: Opens its Big Ten schedule by visiting Michigan State on Tuesday.
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1st Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
33
WISC
Badgers
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
David Joplin vs. Steven Crowl (Badgers gains possession)
19:45
+2
Chucky Hepburn makes two point jump shot
0-2
19:33
Max Klesmit shooting foul
19:33
Kam Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:33
+1
Kam Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
1-2
19:04
+2
Max Klesmit makes two point jump shot
1-4
18:51
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
3-4
18:19
Tyler Wahl misses two point hook shot
18:17
Kam Jones defensive rebound
18:04
Oso Ighodaro turnover (Max Klesmit steals)
17:57
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
17:55
Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
17:45
Chucky Hepburn personal foul
17:38
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
17:36
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
17:16
AJ Storr misses two point layup
17:14
AJ Storr offensive rebound
17:10
+2
AJ Storr makes two point layup
3-6
17:02
Tyler Wahl shooting foul
17:02
Oso Ighodaro misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:02
+1
Oso Ighodaro makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-6
16:30
AJ Storr turnover (Kam Jones steals)
16:23
Oso Ighodaro misses two point layup
16:21
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
16:12
Kam Jones shooting foul
16:12
+1
Max Klesmit makes regular free throw 1 of 2
4-7
16:12
+1
Max Klesmit makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-8
15:58
+3
Ben Gold makes three point jump shot (Sean Jones assists)
7-8
15:29
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Carter Gilmore assists)
7-11
15:05
John Blackwell shooting foul
15:05
TV timeout
15:05
Tyler Kolek misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:05
+1
Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-11
14:39
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
14:37
Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
14:14
Oso Ighodaro turnover
14:04
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point jump shot
8-13
14:04
Chase Ross shooting foul
14:04
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 1
8-14
13:56
+3
Ben Gold makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)
11-14
13:35
Ben Gold shooting foul
13:35
Steven Crowl misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:35
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-15
13:12
Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
13:08
Chase Ross personal foul
12:50
AJ Storr misses three point jump shot
12:48
Sean Jones defensive rebound
12:39
Steven Crowl blocks Sean Jones's two point layup
12:37
Sean Jones offensive rebound
12:30
+2
David Joplin makes two point layup
13-15
12:16
Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot
12:14
Tyler Kolek defensive rebound
12:03
AJ Storr personal foul
11:55
Oso Ighodaro misses two point layup
11:53
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
11:40
Sean Jones personal foul
11:39
TV timeout
11:32
John Blackwell misses two point jump shot
11:30
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
11:30
David Joplin shooting foul
11:30
+1
John Blackwell makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-16
11:30
+1
John Blackwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-17
11:24
Sean Jones misses three point jump shot
11:22
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
11:15
John Blackwell turnover
11:01
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
10:59
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
10:41
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
10:39
Badgers offensive rebound
10:35
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)
13-20
10:03
David Joplin misses two point jump shot
10:01
Oso Ighodaro offensive rebound
9:50
David Joplin misses two point jump shot
9:48
Badgers defensive rebound
9:27
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
9:25
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
9:19
Ben Gold shooting foul
9:19
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-21
9:19
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 2 of 2
13-22
9:11
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
9:09
AJ Storr defensive rebound
8:57
Steven Crowl offensive foul
8:57
Steven Crowl turnover (offensive foul)
8:43
+2
Tyler Kolek makes two point jump shot
15-22
8:43
Tyler Wahl shooting foul
8:43
+1
Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 1 of 1
16-22
8:36
Stevie Mitchell personal foul
8:36
+1
Max Klesmit makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-23
8:36
+1
Max Klesmit makes regular free throw 2 of 2
16-24
8:22
Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
8:20
Nolan Winter defensive rebound
8:03
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Nolan Winter assists)
16-27
7:49
+2
Kam Jones makes two point jump shot
18-27
7:49
John Blackwell shooting foul
7:47
TV timeout
7:47
+1
Kam Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 1
19-27
7:36
Carter Gilmore turnover
7:10
Kam Jones turnover (traveling)
6:57
AJ Storr misses two point hook shot
6:55
Carter Gilmore offensive rebound
6:53
Carter Gilmore misses two point layup
6:51
Badgers offensive rebound
6:48
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
6:46
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
6:32
Kam Jones turnover (Chucky Hepburn steals)
6:26
+2
Chucky Hepburn makes two point layup
19-29
6:16
+2
David Joplin makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)
21-29
5:50
Stevie Mitchell personal foul
5:50
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-30
5:50
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-31
5:40
+2
Tyler Kolek makes two point layup
23-31
5:12
Markus Ilver misses three point jump shot
5:10
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
4:59
Tyler Kolek misses two point jump shot
4:57
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
4:45
Steven Crowl misses two point layup
4:43
AJ Storr offensive rebound
4:43
AJ Storr misses two point dunk
4:41
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
4:28
Tyler Kolek misses two point hook shot
4:27
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
4:27
Oso Ighodaro personal foul
4:27
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-32
4:27
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-33
4:24
Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
4:22
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
4:07
Markus Ilver offensive foul
4:07
Markus Ilver turnover (offensive foul)
4:00
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
3:58
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
3:36
Oso Ighodaro blocks AJ Storr's two point jump shot
3:34
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
3:25
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Steven Crowl assists)
23-36
3:25
Golden Eagles 30 second timeout
3:25
TV timeout
3:10
Oso Ighodaro turnover (Chucky Hepburn steals)
3:04
+2
AJ Storr makes two point alley-oop dunk (Chucky Hepburn assists)
23-38
2:50
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
2:48
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
2:22
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
2:20
Markus Ilver personal foul
2:20
+1
Sean Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2
24-38
2:20
+1
Sean Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
25-38
1:56
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup (Chucky Hepburn assists)
25-40
1:37
Carter Gilmore shooting foul
1:37
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
26-40
1:37
+1
David Joplin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-40
1:28
Sean Jones personal foul
1:28
Chucky Hepburn misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:28
+1
Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2
27-41
1:19
+3
Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)
30-41
0:57
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Carter Gilmore assists)
30-44
0:40
Sean Jones misses three point jump shot
0:38
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
0:14
Sean Jones personal foul
0:14
+1
Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-45
0:14
+1
Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2
30-46
0:02
+3
Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)
33-46
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MARQ
Golden Eagles
31
WISC
Badgers
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:42
+3
Kam Jones makes three point jump shot (Oso Ighodaro assists)
36-46
19:12
AJ Storr misses two point layup
19:10
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
19:03
Tyler Wahl misses two point layup
19:01
Kam Jones defensive rebound
18:49
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point jump shot
38-46
18:35
Chucky Hepburn turnover (Stevie Mitchell steals)
18:28
+2
Oso Ighodaro makes two point layup (Tyler Kolek assists)
40-46
18:27
Badgers 30 second timeout
18:26
TV timeout
17:59
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
17:57
Badgers turnover (shot clock violation)
17:37
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup (Oso Ighodaro assists)
42-46
17:19
Tyler Wahl turnover
17:10
Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
17:08
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
16:53
Stevie Mitchell personal foul
16:39
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point hook shot (Tyler Wahl assists)
42-48
16:16
Stevie Mitchell misses three point jump shot
16:14
John Blackwell defensive rebound
15:51
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
15:49
Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
15:29
+3
David Joplin makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)
45-48
15:14
David Joplin personal foul
15:14
TV timeout
15:11
Max Klesmit turnover (Kam Jones steals)
14:45
+2
Stevie Mitchell makes two point layup (David Joplin assists)
47-48
14:26
+2
John Blackwell makes two point jump shot
47-50
14:08
+2
Oso Ighodaro makes two point hook shot
49-50
13:48
Max Klesmit misses two point jump shot
13:48
Carter Gilmore offensive rebound
13:48
David Joplin personal foul
13:34
+2
AJ Storr makes two point jump shot
49-52
13:23
Ben Gold misses three point jump shot
13:21
AJ Storr defensive rebound
12:58
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
12:56
Golden Eagles defensive rebound
12:38
Kamari McGee personal foul
12:26
+2
Sean Jones makes two point jump shot
51-52
12:00
Connor Essegian turnover (Chase Ross steals)
11:56
TV timeout
11:51
Kam Jones misses three point jump shot
11:49
AJ Storr defensive rebound
11:35
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point layup
51-54
11:26
+2
Chase Ross makes two point layup
53-54
11:04
AJ Storr misses two point jump shot
11:02
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
10:56
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup
53-56
10:41
Ben Gold offensive foul
10:41
Ben Gold turnover (offensive foul)
10:15
+2
Chucky Hepburn makes two point jump shot
53-58
10:01
Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
9:59
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
9:40
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
9:38
Oso Ighodaro defensive rebound
9:29
Oso Ighodaro turnover (Chucky Hepburn steals)
8:57
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point hook shot
53-60
8:39
Steven Crowl shooting foul
8:39
+1
Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-60
8:39
+1
Stevie Mitchell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
55-60
8:12
AJ Storr misses three point jump shot
8:10
Kam Jones defensive rebound
7:54
Kam Jones misses two point jump shot
7:52
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
7:23
Carter Gilmore misses three point jump shot
7:21
Tyler Wahl offensive rebound
7:19
Tyler Wahl misses two point layup
7:19
Badgers offensive rebound
7:19
TV timeout
7:03
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
7:01
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
6:43
AJ Storr misses two point layup
6:41
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
6:36
+2
Steven Crowl makes two point layup
55-62
6:29
David Joplin turnover (traveling)
6:16
AJ Storr turnover (traveling)
5:59
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
5:57
Tyler Wahl defensive rebound
5:37
+2
AJ Storr makes two point dunk
55-64
5:37
Chase Ross shooting foul
5:37
+1
AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 1
55-65
5:28
Tyler Kolek turnover
5:06
Max Klesmit turnover (Chase Ross steals)
4:55
+2
Tyler Kolek makes two point layup
57-65
4:43
+2
Tyler Wahl makes two point layup
57-67
4:31
+2
Kam Jones makes two point layup
59-67
4:01
Max Klesmit turnover
3:54
+3
Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Sean Jones assists)
62-67
3:22
Tyler Kolek shooting foul
3:22
TV timeout
3:22
+1
Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
62-68
3:22
Tyler Wahl misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:22
David Joplin defensive rebound
3:09
Sean Jones misses three point jump shot
3:09
Oso Ighodaro personal foul
3:09
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 1 of 2
62-69
3:09
Steven Crowl misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:09
David Joplin defensive rebound
2:59
David Joplin misses three point jump shot
2:57
Stevie Mitchell offensive rebound
2:53
Stevie Mitchell turnover (Max Klesmit steals)
2:53
Badgers 30 second timeout
2:34
+2
AJ Storr makes two point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)
