Badgers lose in Oklahoma despite double-double from Hayes

By foxsports
Published

NORMAN, Okla. -- Wisconsin posted one of its worst offensive performances of the Bo Ryan era on Sunday, a 65-48 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma.

The Sooners held the Badgers to 23.5 percent shooting, the lowest since a 22.2-percent effort against North Dakota State in 2006 and the second-worst rate since Ryan took over in 2001.

"They played off of some of our guys who they didn't feel could shoot," Ryan said. "Actually, that would have referred to everybody on our team in the long run. When we had the opportunities in the paint, we didn't finish. I'm really disappointed in that."

Nigel Hayes had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Badgers (4-3), who had won their previous two games. Wisconsin made 7 of 33 3-pointers but hit just 9 of 35 shots inside the arc.

Ryan Spangler had 20 points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma, making 7 of 9 shots, including 2 of 3 3-pointers. Isaiah Cousins added 14 points for the Sooners (4-0), who led for all but 30 seconds against last year's national runner-up. Buddy Hield, who averaged 25.3 points in his first three games, was held to 12 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Oklahoma led by as many as 17 points in the first half, and was up 34-19 at the half behind Spangler's 12 points, Cousins' 10 and Hield's eight. Oklahoma held the Badgers to 20 percent shooting and Hayes to just five points in the first half.

Wisconsin rallied early in the second half, and Bronson Koenig's 3-pointer cut the Sooners' lead to 36-27. But Oklahoma regained control, and a layup by Spangler put the Sooners ahead 52-35 with 7:33 to play.

"My old coach, one time when we weren't shooting it real well, said that he could dropkick and make more baskets than we could," Ryan said. "He actually dropkicked the ball in practice and it went in.

"I don't think I'd try that, but I might tomorrow."

Wisconsin: Koenig made just 3 of 18 shots, and Vitto Brown made 3 of 15. . . . Previous season low was 61 points. . . . Committed four turnovers in the first half and seven overall. . . . Made just 2 of 14 shots inside the 3-point line in the first half.

Oklahoma: Spangler had his second straight hot start, having tallied 11 points in the first 6:39 in the previous game against Incarnate Word. . . . Committed just two turnovers in the first half and five overall. . . . Oklahoma attempted just one free throw in the first half.

Wisconsin: Plays at Syracuse on Wednesday.

Oklahoma: Hosts Central Arkansas on Thursday.