Wisconsin digs out of early hole, buries Holy Cross 85-61
Gabe Warren and Holy Cross were more than up to the challenge of a road opener at Wisconsin, but the Badgers broke out of a first-half slumber to survive a shaky showing and start the season with an 85-61 victory on Monday night in Madison, Wis.
John Tonje scored 11 of his 23 points in the second half and went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line for the Badgers, who made all 16 of their foul shots. John Blackwell had 16 points and Nolan Winter added 15, all in the second half.
Warren poured in a team-high 23 and put the Badgers on their heels with a barrage of 3-pointers as the Crusaders jumped out to a 21-5 lead to open the game. Holy Cross made 9 of its first 11 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from long range.
Wisconsin shot 56.7 percent after the half, building the lead to 30 points by extending its defense to challenge Holy Cross at the 3-point line. Warren had four 3-pointers in the first half, but the Crusaders shot 33.3 percent from the field and made went only 3 of 11 from long range while the Badgers heated up with an inside-out game.
In response to a line change substitution by coach Greg Gard, Wisconsin used an 18-2 run to rally in the first half. The Badgers seized control with a pair of treys from Tonje. But Warren made a 3-pointer to finish the first half with 16 points and push Holy Cross back in front, 36-35.
