Greg Gard reacts to Wisconsin surviving upset scare vs. UT Rio Grande Valley

No. 19 Wisconsin remained undefeated after an upset scare on Monday night against UT Rio Grande Valley.

UTRGV played as the Badgers’ equal throughout the game. The Vaqueros led at halftime, and for most of the game for that matter, and led by as many as seven points in the second half. Still, Wisconson was able to hold on an improve to 5-0 on the young season after defeating UT Rio Grande Valley 87-84.

“We had to play so many different lineups just because of the what Rio Grande Valley does,” head coach Greg Gard told Big Ten Network’s Bruce Weber. “They spread you out, shooting threes with five and just put us in the blender. We had a hard time with it. … You watch them play Creighton, you watch them play Nebraska, and they’re a hard matchup because how they can spread it and the five [players on the court can] shoot threes.”

The Badgers were led by sophomore guard John Blackwell. Scoring a career high against UTRGV, he led the team in points (30), rebounds (7) and assists (3), he was the catalyst for Wisconsin’s late stand that includes incing the game with a few free throws down the stretch.

Elsewhere in the backcourt, senior Max Klesmit logged 11 points on the night while John Tonje put up 19 points of his own. The trio combined for six of Wisconsin’s eight made 3-pointers during the contest.

Trailing all but three minutes prior to the final four minutes of regulation, the trio of Badgers starters was able to maintain the lead late despite the Vaqueros’ efforts.

Those efforts by UTRGV were aided by their strong 3-point showing during the contest. DK Thorn cashed in on his team’s 13th 3-point bucket in the final minute of the game to cut the score to 85-84.

Wisconsin was able to get a stand on the final possession after a missed shot near the basket by UTRGV’s Hasan Adbul Hakim. With 2.1. seconds left, Blackwell went to the charity stripe to extend the Badgers’ lead.

A last-second heave would prove no good for the Vaqueros as Wisconsin escaped disaster on Monday night.

They’ll be back in action on Friday against UCF.