MADISON – Max Klesmit has contributed in myriad methods in his first season at Wisconsin.
The gritty junior guard from Neenah High School shone brightest late Sunday on the Kohl Center to assist the Badgers hold their season alive.
Klesmit scored all seven of his factors within the remaining 2 minutes 11 seconds to assist UW rally previous Liberty, 75-71, within the second spherical of the NIT.
Klesmit hit a three-pointer with 2:11 left to present UW a one-point lead, scored on a drive with 42.7 left to present UW one other one-point lead after which hit two free throws with six seconds left to safe the victory.
The Badgers (19-14) received consecutive video games for the primary time since Dec. 30 and Jan. 3 to advance to the quarterfinal spherical Tuesday or Wednesday in opposition to both top-seeded Oregon or Central Florida.
Those groups had been scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Eugene, Oregon. If the Ducks win, they may host UW. If Central Florida wins, the Knights will face UW within the Kohl Center.
Liberty completed the season 27-9.
BOX SCORE: Wisconsin 75, Liberty 71
Coming off a 36-point, nine-rebound efficiency within the opening spherical, Steven Crowl hit 7 of 8 photographs and scored 14 factors within the opening half. He was assessed a Flagrant 1 and a technical with 49.5 seconds left within the half, nonetheless, giving him three fouls.
He picked up his fourth foul – a cost – with 10:35 left within the recreation and headed to the bench. Crowl’s final basket got here with 7:10 left within the opening half as he completed with 14 factors, two rebounds and two assists.
Chucky Hepburn, who had a mixed 9 factors on 3-for-16 capturing within the earlier two video games, attacked the lane off the dribble early and sometimes. He scored 19 factors within the opening half to assist UW to a 37-34 lead and completed with 27 factors. He was 0 of 6 from three-point vary however hit 9 of 20 photographs general and 9 of 11 free throws.
UW hit 20 of 24 free throws general (83.3%).
Tyler Wahl, restricted to 17 minutes in opposition to Bradley due to foul hassle and a bruised knee, contributed 16 factors and 6 rebounds.
Connor Essegian added seven factors for UW.
Senior guard Darius McGhee, the three-time participant of the 12 months within the ASUN, entered the sport averaging 22.6 factors per recreation and capturing 39.9% from three-point vary. He got here in having scored a minimum of 20 factors in 23 video games this season and in 58 video games general at Liberty.
McGhee hit simply 2 of 8 three-pointers and 4 of 11 photographs general within the opening half however burned UW repeatedly after halftime. He hit simply 4 of 15 three-pointers however hit 10 of 25 photographs general and seven of 9 free throws for 31 factors.
Senior ahead Kyle Rode hit 4 of seven three-pointers, although he missed a wide-open try late with Liberty down, 72-71, and added 16 factors.
Crowl carried UW early earlier than entering into foul hassle and Hepburn took the baton and carried the Badgers to a 37-34 halftime lead.
Crowl scored UW’s first six factors and 10 of their first 14. He had 14 factors, on 7-for-8 capturing, when he was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul and a technical foul for knocking Liberty’s Shiloh Robinson to the court docket with UW holding a 35-31 lead.
McGhee hit two free throws for the technical and Robinson hit 1 of two makes an attempt for the flagrant foul to chop UW’s result in 35-34 with 49.5 seconds left.
Hepburn, who earlier scored eight consecutive factors in a span of two:34, scored inside once more for a 37-34 lead with 10 seconds left.
McGhee missed a deep three-pointer with two seconds left.
UW twice constructed a six-point lead early within the second half however Rode introduced the Flames again.
Rode, the Flames’ No. 2 scorer at 10.8 factors per recreation, hit a jumper and back-to-back three-pointers in a span of 70 seconds to present Liberty a 48-46 lead with 14:41 left.
When McGhee hit a three-pointer, simply his third on 10 makes an attempt, Liberty had a 56-52 lead with 11:42 left.
Crowl exited along with his fourth foul – a cost – with 10:35 left and UW down by 4.
McGhee answered with a three-pointer 15 seconds later for a 61-54 lead and UW was in hassle.
Wahl hit two free throws and Jordan Davis hit a baseline jumper to chop the deficit to 61-58, however Davis missed an open three-pointer.
Zach Cleveland was fouled by Davis with 7:47 left however made simply 1 of two free throws for a four-point lead.
The Badgers had an opportunity to take a lead with 3:50 left when Wahl went to the road for 2 free throws.
Wahl was 5 of 5 from the road and UW was 14 of 16 from the road to that time. The senior missed the primary however made the second to forge a tie.
McGhee drove previous Hepburn and transformed a troublesome, left-handed lay-up in site visitors for a 67-65 lead with 3:27 left and the Flames instantly referred to as a timeout.
Hepburn missed a three-pointer however so did McGhee.
Klesmit hit a three-pointer, UW’s first in 15 makes an attempt, to present the Badgers a 68-67 lead with 2:11 left however McGhee scored on a drive with 1:54 left to present the Flames a 69-68 lead.
UW took a timeout with 1:40 left. Hepburn was fouled with 1:29 left and made each photographs for a 70-69 lead.
Cleveland scored inside over Carter Gilmore with 1:09 left and UW trailed once more.
Timeout UW with 15 seconds on the shot clock and 48.9 seconds left within the recreation. Klesmit scored on left-handed drive with 42.7 seconds left to present UW one other one-point lead.
Timeout Liberty with 26 seconds to shoot and 39 seconds within the recreation.
Rodek missed a wide-open three and a tip by Joseph Venzant missed.
Connor Essegian was fouled with 24 seconds left and made 1 of two photographs for a 73-71 lead.
McGhee missed a contested drive, Klesmit got here down with the free ball and was fouled with six seconds left.
Klesmit, a 66.7% free-throw shooter, buried each photographs and UW was heading to the quarterfinals.
Wisconsin seems to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament right now. Get stay updates from Madison in the course of the Badgers’ matchup with the Liberty Flames.
MORE: Wisconsin performs Liberty on Sunday in NIT, hopes to make run to title
