Box Score MADISON, Wis. – Four Colonials scored in double-figures led by
Jackson Last's career-high-tying 16 points, but a bevy of late free throws down the stretch led Wisconsin to a 78-68 victory on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Last finished 5-of-8 from the field, including four 3-pointers.
TJ Wainwright scored 15 points,
Justice Williams 11 and
Alfredo Boglio 10 for the Colonials (1-3).
Tyler Wahl and John Blackwell each scored 18 points for Wisconsin (2-2). Steven Crowl had 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
With Wisconsin ahead 10-3 early on, RMU went on an 11-2 run capped by Last's layup at 14:10, which made the score 14-12. The Badgers would go on to score the next seven points over the next two minutes and hold the lead until the 5:23 mark when Boglio's jumper tied the game at 26-26.
After the teams exchanged baskets, Wainwright's free throw put the Colonials ahead 29-28 with 3:18 remaining. The lead would switch hands three times before the Badgers would take a 37-35 advantage into halftime.
The game was tied 50-50 at the midway point of the 2
nd half before Wisconsin scored the next six points. A Williams 3-ball cut the deficit to four points with 7:49 left, but Blackwell scored the next eight points which gave UW its first double-digit lead at 68-56.
RMU would get the deficit down to seven points inside of two minutes and once again with 34.6 seconds to play, but that would be its final points.
As a team, RMU shot 46% and made 13 3-pointers, both season-bests. Despite being out-sized, the Colonials held a 28-27 edge on the glass, however were outscored 42-16 in the paint. RMU had three players foul out and were whistled 32 times to UW's 15.
The Colonials return to the UPMC Events Center November 24 against Jacksonville in the first game of the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic.
RMU BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for RMU basketball for the 2023-24 season can be purchased by calling the RMU Ticket Office at (412) 397-4949. In addition to a full slate of Horizon League games, the Colonials will also host an MTE Tournament at the UPMC Events Center as part of their 2023-24 non-conference home schedule.
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