Gophers Fall To #5 Wisconsin 63-53

MADISON, Wis. (AP) (Gophersports.com) Nate Mason and Carlos Morris had 11 points apiece for the Gophers, but Minnesota fell to No. 5 Wisconsin 63-53 on Saturday afternoon.

Frank Kaminsky scored 21 points, Bronson Koenig added a career-high 17 for Wisconsin, which won it's 10th straight game.

The Badgers (25-2, 13-1 Big Ten) maintained their three-game conference lead in the loss column over Maryland, Purdue and Michigan State.

Wisconsin led 35-27 at halftime and pushed it to 49-34 on a 3-pointer by Kaminsky with 10:34 remaining. Kaminsky shot 9 for 13.

Minnesota got just one free throw the entire game and missed it. The Badgers, who led the nation in fewest fouls at 12.9 per game, were called for seven fouls.

Minnesota was called for 17 fouls and Wisconsin was 11 of 14 from the line.

''We certainly lost to a really good team,'' said Minnesota coach Richard Pitino.  ''That's about as good a team in the country. They do a great job of not beating themselves by not fouling and not turning the ball over. I thought our guys gave great energy today. I thought we were very positive. We didn't get down. We just lost to a really good team.''

Sam Dekker, who struggled from the field, gave the Badgers their biggest lead at 54-38 on a dunk with 6:51 left. Dekker, the team's second-leading scorer 13.4 points and shooting 53 percent, was just 1 of 8.

Koenig, a sophomore, shot 4 of 10 and made all six of his free throws.

Wisconsin shot 54 percent in the first half, led by Kaminksy, who was 5-of-6 in the early going. He was scoreless for the final 10:16 of the half.

The Gophers hit their first four shots and 10 of 16, but went 3 of 12 to close the half.

Minnesota outrebounded Wisconsin at at 29-27 clip.

TIP-INS

The Gophers had an earlier eight-game winning streak, followed by five straight losses. The Gophers also have had two three-game winning streaks, the last of which preceded these three losses.

UP NEXT

The Gophers look to bounce back when they travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State on Thursday.