National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Wisconsin 86, Nicholls State 43
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 13, 2014
Where: Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Officials: # Evan Burroughs, # Lewis Garrison, # Gerald Williams
Attendance: 17279

No. 6 Wisconsin 86, Nicholls 43:
Sam Dekker had 17 points as five Badgers scored in double figures against the visiting Colonels.

Dekker went 6-of-10 from the floor and added five rebounds and two blocks and Josh Gasser chipped in 14 points for Wisconsin (10-1). Nigel Hayes went 5-of-5 from the floor for 12 points and eight rebounds and Frank Kaminsky added 10 points.

Amin Torres led Nicholls (1-5) with 14 points off the bench but the Colonels finished with more turnovers (21) than field goals (18). Sam McBeath added nine points and two rebounds for Nicholls, which was outrebounded 41-26.

Hayes hit two jumpers and a 3-pointer as Wisconsin raced out to an 11-2 lead and Kaminsky, Dekker and Hayes scored on consecutive possessions to make it 25-4 midway through the half. Hayes finished the first half 5-of-5 from the floor while the Badgers shot 70.4 percent.

Wisconsin opened the second half with an 8-1 run for a 55-16 lead and Traevon Jackson snapped a 13-7 Colonels' run with a 3-pointer for a 64-29 lead with 10 minutes left. The Badgers didn't make a field goal for nearly six minutes, hitting 13-of-16 free throws during that stretch to stretch the lead to 79-37 with four minutes left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wisconsin held Nicholls to 24.1 percent shooting in the first half, forcing more turnovers (eight) than field goals allowed (seven). ... Wisconsin sophomore F Vitto Brown finished with a career-high 10 points ... Wisconsin is off until a trip to California on Dec. 22.
Top Game Performances
 
Nicholls State   Wisconsin
Amin Torres 14 Scoring Sam Dekker 17
T.J. Carpenter 4 Assists Frank Kaminsky 4
T.J. Carpenter 5 Rebounds Nigel Hayes 8
Amin Torres 3 Free Throws Made Josh Gasser 7
Richie Lewis 2 Steals Vitto Brown 2
Ja'Dante' Frye 1 Blocks Sam Dekker 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Nicholls State 43 34.6 2-10 5-8 8 22 1 5 21
Wisconsin 86 51.9 4-14 26-35 14 35 5 10 10