Wisconsin Edges Purdue in overtime 76 to 75

Wisconsin Edges Purdue in overtime 76 to 75

by: Steven Stremming, Excel H Sports/USBWA

In the first semifinal game of the 2024 B1G Ten Men’s conference basketball championships, Wisconsin and Purdue went toe to toe for not only regulation time but an extra period to the delight of the crowd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This game came down to crucial plays executed by the Wisconsin Badgers at the end of regulation and a game winning basket in overtime with 2.3 seconds to go to claim a spot in the championship game, Sunday, March 17th.

But first the play was simply spectacular by both teams as they both traded punches as Ali-Frazier prize fight.

Wisconsin loaded the box on the reigning national player of the year, Zach Edey and said to Purdue, beat us.

Edey more than answered, as he fouled out three Badger bigs in their efforts to stop him. Edey would end his day with 28 points on seven of eleven shots from the floor, most deep in the paint. Edey also went fourteen of nineteen from the charity stripe, eleven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Edey also surpassed the great Purdue legend Rick Mount, in all-time scoring in Boilermaker history. Mount’s record is something most people never thought possible of eclipsing.

But now, let’s turn to the Badgers who behind a driving layup by Chucky Hepburn to tie the game in regulation to the game winning basket by Max Klesmit in overtime.

Everyone in the building, I think everyone knew, Hepburn would get the ball with Braden Smith, Purdue’s first-team All-B1G Ten selection having four personals.

Hepburn slipped past Smith and found himself wide open under the basket and hit the game tying shot to force overtime.

The overtime went back and forth throughout with both teams not letting each other out of their sights.

The game came down to a pass in from the front court to Klesmit who drove the lane, pulled up and canned the game winning shot.

Chucky Hepburn would lead the Badgers with 22 points on nine of twelve from the floor with four assists and three steals.

Aiding Hepburn was the continued solid play of St. John’s transfer, A J Storr who scored 20 points on eight of twenty-three shots from the floor with six rebounds, Max Klesmit’s twelve points on five of nine shooting, and five boards and assists.

Steven Crowl would score eleven points on five of seven shooting before fouling out.

Purdue would get nine points a piece from Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Lance Jones.

Braden Smith contributed ten assists before fouling out.

Mason Gillis, once again was big in this sixth man role as he scored eight points and nine boards.

Camden Heide was also strong off the bench with six rebounds for the Boilers.

Wisconsin turned the ball over five times to the Boilermakers sixteen.

Wisconsin moves on to play either Nebraska or Illinois for the B1G Ten conference championship.