Wisconsin ends Temple's modest winning streak

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes won the battle on both ends of the court against Temple guard Quenton DeCosey.

And that matchup was the defining one in the Badgers' 76-60 nonconference win Saturday at the Kohl Center.

Hayes posted game highs with 18 points and 12 rebounds as Wisconsin (6-3) won its second straight and snapped the Owls' two-game winning streak.

DeCosey, the Owls' leading scorer, who entered the game with a 15.5 points-per-game average, was held to three points in 18 minutes. The senior drained a three-pointer at 2 minutes, 56 seconds in the first half and missed his next five attempts.

Hayes said he relished the task of not only guarding an opponent's best player, but capitalizing on a size mismatch against the 6-foot-5 DeCosey.

"It seems they're trying to do the same thing as last year by putting a smaller guy on me, which I don't know why people do that," said Hayes, a 6-8 junior forward. "So, I just try my best to take advantage of my height and size on the inside."

Temple's Obi Enechionyia also had a rough game. The sophomore forward scored two points on 1-for-4 shooting and saw limited time after picking up two fouls in the first half.

Senior guard Jaylen Bond scored a team-high 12 points on 6-for-13 shooting for the Owls (3-4) and also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Owls missed on five straight possessions during a first-half scoring drought that stretched 3:37. Bond's layup at 7:46 cut into the Badgers' lead at 20-12.

The Owls made buckets on four of five possessions to open the second half - including four points from Bond - that cut Wisconsin's lead to 39-34 with 17:38 to go.

But the Owls wilted under Wisconsin's defensive pressure and the hot shooting of Bronson Koenig. Koenig scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half.

Temple coach Fran Dunphy said he likes his young players' determination. Freshman guards Levan Alston Jr. (11 points, five rebounds) and Trey Lowe (10 points) are coming along, and Dunphy also is eager to see what center Ernest Aflakpui will offer with increased playing time.

"The three of them are fearless, and they just want to go out there and play," Dunphy said. "I think it showed, especially Alston in that first half, when we were struggling to score, and he makes two huge threes. . . . They're good guys who understand how hard this game is and how good a team they played today."

The mutual admiration runs strong between Dunphy and Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan. Both coaches grew up near Philadelphia, Dunphy in Drexel Hill and Ryan in Chester. Dunphy went to college at La Salle and Ryan at Wilkes, and Ryan said he had the advantage against his rival once in a summer pickup game.

"He doesn't believe me, but I did take a charge on him," Ryan said. ". . . He's a good man, he's good for the game. Dunph's forgot more basketball than most guys know."