No. 21 Wisconsin displays offensive firepower, beats Nebraska

No. 21 Wisconsin hit a season-high 13 3-pointers and had five players score in double figures in an 88-72 home win over Nebraska on Saturday in Madison.

The Badgers (11-3, 3-0 Big Ten) were 13 of 26 from 3-point range, their most makes in a conference game in three years. The 88 points were their most in Big Ten play since 2017, and they posted consecutive 80-point league performances for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

Tyler Wahl led Wisconsin with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding eight rebounds and four assists, while Chucky Hepburn had 13 points. Two reserves reached double figures as the Badgers, who shot 55 percent from the floor, got 36 points from their bench including a season-high 12 from Connor Essegian thanks to four 3-pointers.

Nebraska (12-3, 2-2) got 17 points from Keisei Tominaga and 16 from Rienk Mast. The Cornhuskers shot 49.1 percent and made 12 3-pointers but didn't get the defensive stops they're used to. A game removed from forcing 19 turnovers in a home win over Indiana, Nebraska forced just eight Wisconsin turnovers.

The ‘Huskers were also outscored 36-18 in the paint and didn't get their first offensive rebound until three minutes into the second half.

Wisconsin led 51-38 at the half thanks to 59.4 percent shooting, scoring its most first-half points in a Big Ten game under coach Greg Gard. It was the Badgers' second consecutive half with at least 50, dropping 51 in the second half of Tuesday's 83-72 home win over Iowa.

Nebraska cut the deficit to 11 on a Mast 3-pointer with 17:58 left regulation, but Wisconsin responded with a 10-2 run.

Wisconsin made eight of its first 12 shots to lead by 10 midway through the first half, getting to a 20-point advantage on a Nolan Winter layup with 2:50 left before the break.

Nebraska is home Tuesday against No. 1 Purdue, while Wisconsin visits Ohio State on Wednesday.

—Field Level Media