With the Wisconsin Badgers needing a win to end their three game losing skid, Tyler Wahl returned to the starting lineup and Connor Essegian made his first career college start to help lead Wisconsin to a 63-60 victory over Penn State.
It was a back and forth game throughout but Penn State had opened up a 6 point lead at halftime. The Badgers scored the first 7 points of the second half to re-take the lead and ended up on a 12-2 run to begin the half.
Penn State was able to battle back and keep it a one possession game down the stretch. Some clutch shots from Essegian and Steven Crowl kept Wisconsin on top and two final free throws from Chucky Hepburn sealed the 63-60 victory for the Badgers.
Crowl led the way in scoring with another big night, dropping 21 points and 11 rebounds for his second career double-double. Hepburn scored 13 points with three assists. Essegian in his first career start scored 10 points with three rebounds while Tyler Wahl in his return to the lineup scored 10 points with 5 rebounds and two assists.
Wisconsin improves to 12-5 overall on the season and 4-3 in the Big Ten while Penn State falls to 12-6 and a 3-4 record in the conference.
Next up for the Badgers is a trip to Northwestern on Saturday with an 11 am tipoff.