The Sports Xchange
Nov 10, 2017
Wisconsin junior forward Ethan Happ scored a team-high 20 points, and junior forward Andy Van Vliet added 18 as Wisconsin whipped South Carolina State 85-50 on Friday night in the regular-season opener for both teams in Madison, Wis.
Happ, who was named to the preseason All-Big Ten Conference team, is the only returning major contributor for the Badgers. He was 8 of 11 from the field and led all players with a game-high 11 rebounds at the Kohl Center.
Happ's only weak area was from the free throw line, where he finished 4 of 9.
Van Vliet, in his first career start, was 4-of-5 from 3-point range in 22 minutes for Wisconsin. Sophomore guard Brevin Pretzl also made his first start and poured in 17 points.
South Carolina State redshirt senior guard Donte Wright scored a team-high 14 points and drained 3 of 8 3-point shots.
Sophomore forward Damari Applewhite and sophomore guard Justin Jones added nine and eight points, respectively, for South Carolina State.
Wisconsin shot 43.5 percent from the field.
South Carolina State, in its first meeting against Wisconsin, shot 33.3 percent from the field.
While the game gave Wisconsin players a chance to hone their skills, the Badgers were sloppy taking care of the ball, finishing with 13 turnovers.
Wisconsin sophomore G D'Mtrik Trice, playing at the point, scored 13 points and had five assists. He started two games last season during his freshman campaign.
Wisconsin hosts Yale on Sunday night in a regular-season game that is part of the National Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame Classic tournament.