Max Klesmit's second-half flurry helps No. 11 Wisconsin beat Indiana 91-79
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit acknowledges his style of play can frustrate opponents.
That’s particularly true when Klesmit performs the way he did Friday night.
Klesmit scored 20 consecutive Wisconsin points during a second-half span of just over 4 1/2 minutes, and the 11th-ranked Badgers beat Indiana 91-79 to continue their home mastery of the Hoosiers.
Klesmit capped his dominant stretch by hitting a pair of free throws after Indiana reserve guard CJ Gunn was ejected for elbowing him in the side of the face with 12:42 remaining.
“With the chip I play on my shoulder, I guess some guys can kind of look at that as super aggression, maybe a little out of control,” Klesmit said. “But in my mind, it's nothing ever that's out of my control. It's always kind of just the way I play.”
Wisconsin (14-4, 6-1 Big Ten) has won its last 20 home games against Indiana and hasn’t lost to the Hoosiers in Madison since 1998, the Kohl Center's inaugural season. It's the longest road skid for Indiana against any opponent; Purdue won 19 consecutive home games over Indiana from 1901-22.
Klesmit scored 23 of his 26 points in the second half and went 5 of 7 on 3-point attempts. It was his highest-scoring game for Wisconsin; he scored 27 points for Wofford in January 2022.
He has gone 15 of 22 from beyond the arc over his last five games, including 12 of 16 in his last three.
“He's obviously extremely confident,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “He's worked on his game, too. He's gotten better. He's better physically. He's quicker. He's changed his body in a positive way. I think the confidence for him, that started late last year and blossomed in the offseason, and obviously it's showing now.”
Indiana (12-7, 4-4) was missing 7-footer Kel’el Ware - its top rebounder and second-leading scorer - due to a lower-leg injury.
“He went down in practice, came down on somebody's foot and turned his ankle, and it blew up on us,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said.
Wisconsin extended its Big Ten lead to a full game over No. 2 Purdue, which visits Iowa on Saturday.
AJ Crowl added 15 points and Steven Crowl had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Badgers. Chucky Hepburn also scored 12 points.
Malik Reneau scored 28 points, Mackenzie Mgbako 17 and Trey Galloway 10 for Indiana.
Klesmit made back-to-back 3-pointers that extended Wisconsin’s lead to 49-33 with 16:52 left. Indiana responded with a 9-0 run.
Klesmit ended Indiana’s spurt by hitting a 3-pointer. He then made another 3 from in front of Wisconsin’s bench while getting fouled, and he completed the four-point play to make it 56-42.
He later added a three-point play, a steal and layup and two free throws as part of an 18-2 run that gave Wisconsin a 67-44 advantage.
The free throws followed Gunn's ejection. During a break in the action, Klesmit bowed his head toward the upper part of Gunn’s chest. Gunn responded by elbowing Klesmit in the left side of the face.
“The kid put his head on (Gunn's) chest, and (Gunn) threw a semi-elbow,” Woodson said. “I don't think it was something hard that warranted being kicked out of the game.”
BIG PICTURE
Indiana: The Hoosiers shot 53.8% but allowed Wisconsin to shoot 59.6% in the second of three straight games against top-15 opponents. Indiana lost 87-66 to Purdue on Wednesday.
Wisconsin: Three nights after their six-game win streak ended with an 87-83 loss at Penn State, the Badgers regained their momentum. Wisconsin now awaits word on reserve guard Kamari McGee, who was helped to the locker room after taking a fall under the basket in the second half. Gard expressed cautious optimism about McGee after the game.
UP NEXT
Indiana: At No. 14 Illinois on Jan. 27.
Wisconsin: At Minnesota on Tuesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Payton Sparks vs. Steven Crowl (Gabe Cupps gains possession) | |||
19:47 | Malik Reneau misses two point layup | |||
19:45 | Malik Reneau offensive rebound | |||
19:35 | Malik Reneau misses two point layup | |||
19:33 | Malik Reneau offensive rebound | |||
19:29 | +2 | Malik Reneau makes two point layup | 2-0 | |
19:25 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
19:23 | Payton Sparks defensive rebound | |||
19:01 | AJ Storr shooting foul (Mackenzie Mgbako draws the foul) | |||
19:01 | +1 | Mackenzie Mgbako makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-0 | |
19:01 | +1 | Mackenzie Mgbako makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-0 | |
18:47 | +3 | Chucky Hepburn makes three point jump shot (Steven Crowl assists) | 4-3 | |
18:22 | Mackenzie Mgbako turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
17:53 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
17:51 | Malik Reneau defensive rebound | |||
17:33 | Payton Sparks misses two point layup | |||
17:31 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
17:22 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
17:20 | Trey Galloway defensive rebound | |||
17:14 | Trey Galloway turnover (bad pass) (Max Klesmit steals) | |||
17:10 | AJ Storr turnover (traveling) | |||
16:55 | +2 | Gabe Cupps makes two point jump shot | 6-3 | |
16:26 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
16:24 | Hoosiers defensive rebound | |||
16:11 | Payton Sparks turnover (bad pass) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
16:05 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) (Trey Galloway steals) | |||
15:56 | Malik Reneau misses two point layup | |||
15:54 | Malik Reneau offensive rebound | |||
15:54 | +2 | Malik Reneau makes two point layup | 8-3 | |
15:35 | Tyler Wahl turnover (bad pass) | |||
15:35 | TV timeout | |||
15:23 | Malik Reneau turnover (lost ball) (Kamari McGee steals) | |||
15:11 | Gabe Cupps personal foul | |||
14:56 | +2 | John Blackwell makes two point layup (Carter Gilmore assists) | 8-5 | |
14:28 | +2 | Malik Reneau makes two point layup | 10-5 | |
14:11 | Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot | |||
14:09 | Carter Gilmore offensive rebound | |||
14:02 | Trey Galloway personal foul | |||
13:49 | +3 | John Blackwell makes three point jump shot | 10-8 | |
13:32 | Mackenzie Mgbako misses two point jump shot | |||
13:30 | John Blackwell defensive rebound | |||
13:13 | +3 | AJ Storr makes three point jump shot | 10-11 | |
12:50 | +2 | Payton Sparks makes two point layup | 12-11 | |
12:28 | +2 | John Blackwell makes two point layup | 12-13 | |
12:13 | Trey Galloway misses two point jump shot | |||
12:11 | Nolan Winter defensive rebound | |||
11:58 | Xavier Johnson personal foul | |||
11:58 | TV timeout | |||
11:50 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 12-15 | |
11:23 | Xavier Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
11:21 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot | |||
11:01 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | +2 | Connor Essegian makes two point jump shot | 12-17 | |
10:18 | Connor Essegian personal foul | |||
10:10 | Anthony Walker misses two point jump shot | |||
10:08 | AJ Storr defensive rebound | |||
9:51 | Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot | |||
9:49 | Xavier Johnson defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Malik Reneau misses two point jump shot | |||
9:31 | AJ Storr defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | CJ Gunn shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
9:12 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-18 | |
9:12 | AJ Storr misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:12 | Malik Reneau defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | +2 | Malik Reneau makes two point hook shot | 14-18 | |
8:31 | Steven Crowl misses two point jump shot | |||
8:29 | Malik Reneau defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | CJ Gunn misses two point jump shot | |||
8:19 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
8:03 | +2 | Tyler Wahl makes two point jump shot | 14-20 | |
7:57 | Hoosiers 30 second timeout | |||
7:57 | TV timeout | |||
7:32 | Malik Reneau misses three point jump shot | |||
7:30 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
7:19 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
7:17 | Carter Gilmore personal foul | |||
7:07 | Xavier Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
7:05 | John Blackwell defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | +2 | Carter Gilmore makes two point layup (Steven Crowl assists) | 14-22 | |
6:16 | +2 | Anthony Walker makes two point layup | 16-22 | |
5:51 | Anthony Walker personal foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul) | |||
5:43 | +2 | Tyler Wahl makes two point layup | 16-24 | |
5:25 | Anthony Walker turnover (lost ball) (Kamari McGee steals) | |||
5:21 | Trey Galloway shooting foul (Kamari McGee draws the foul) | |||
5:21 | +1 | Kamari McGee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-25 | |
5:21 | +1 | Kamari McGee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-26 | |
4:54 | +2 | Trey Galloway makes two point layup | 18-26 | |
4:34 | +3 | Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Kamari McGee assists) | 18-29 | |
4:18 | Trey Galloway misses three point jump shot | |||
4:17 | Mackenzie Mgbako offensive rebound | |||
4:17 | John Blackwell personal foul (Mackenzie Mgbako draws the foul) | |||
4:09 | +2 | Gabe Cupps makes two point layup | 20-29 | |
3:38 | Mackenzie Mgbako shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
3:38 | TV timeout | |||
3:38 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-30 | |
3:38 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-31 | |
3:25 | AJ Storr personal foul | |||
3:11 | Mackenzie Mgbako misses two point jump shot | |||
3:09 | John Blackwell defensive rebound | |||
2:46 | +2 | Steven Crowl makes two point layup | 20-33 | |
2:34 | Steven Crowl shooting foul (Payton Sparks draws the foul) | |||
2:34 | +1 | Payton Sparks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-33 | |
2:34 | +1 | Payton Sparks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-33 | |
2:24 | Payton Sparks blocks Chucky Hepburn's two point layup | |||
2:22 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
2:20 | Xavier Johnson personal foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul) | |||
2:20 | +1 | Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-34 | |
2:20 | +1 | Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-35 | |
2:07 | Tyler Wahl shooting foul (Payton Sparks draws the foul) | |||
2:07 | Payton Sparks misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:07 | +1 | Payton Sparks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-35 | |
1:52 | Payton Sparks personal foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul) | |||
1:52 | +1 | Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-36 | |
1:52 | +1 | Tyler Wahl makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-37 | |
1:44 | Gabe Cupps turnover (back court violation) | |||
1:20 | Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot | |||
1:18 | Trey Galloway defensive rebound | |||
1:11 | +3 | Gabe Cupps makes three point jump shot (Trey Galloway assists) | 26-37 | |
0:46 | John Blackwell offensive foul | |||
0:46 | John Blackwell turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:46 | Hoosiers 30 second timeout | |||
0:33 | Trey Galloway misses three point jump shot | |||
0:31 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
0:07 | Xavier Johnson personal foul (Connor Essegian draws the foul) | |||
0:07 | +1 | Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-38 | |
0:07 | +1 | Connor Essegian makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-39 | |
0:07 | Badgers 30 second timeout | |||
0:00 | End of period |