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Koenig hits 5 3s on Senior Day, No. 22 Badgers beats Gophers

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, right, talks with Bronson Koenig during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota, Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) ORG XMIT: WIAM111 (Andy Manis / AP)
Genero C. Armas Associated Press

MADISON, Wis.– Senior guard Bronson Koenig scored 17 points in his final home game, combining with D’Mitrik Trice to give No. 22 Wisconsin’s offense a second-half boost in a 66-49 victory over Minnesota on Sunday.

The Badgers (23-8, 12-6 Big Ten) secured the second seed in the conference tournament and got a sorely needed confidence boost to end the regular season after having lost five of their previous six games.

Nate Mason had 17 points for Minnesota (23-8, 11-7). The Golden Gophers had won eight straight.

Koenig hit five 3s in the second half, including baskets on three straight possessions with less than 3 minutes left. Trice had a four-point play after getting fouled on a 3-pointer with 12:24 left, before hitting a layup about 20 seconds later.

They helped ignite an 18-2 run over a six-minute stretch of the second half that gave Wisconsin a 13-point lead with 11:32 left.

The offense seemed to provide a spark on the other end of the floor, where the Badgers regularly contested Minnesota shots in the lane and hustled for loose balls.

Minnesota got as close as 51-45 with 6:20 left on Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer. But there were too many other missed opportunities for the Gophers, who shot just 7 of 30 in the second half (23 percent) and were outrebounded 24-17 in the period.

Minnesota led 29-27 at halftime, shooting 42 percent from the field and getting 11 points from Mason in the first half.

BIG PICTURE

Minnesota: This was an important season for the program regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game. The Gophers rebounded from an eight-win season in 2015-16 to become an NCAA Tournament lock. Minnesota received key contributions this year from senior Akeem Springs, a transfer from Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He went scoreless in 22 minutes on Sunday after averaging 9.9 points entering the game.

Wisconsin: Trice, a freshman, ran the point for 15 minutes in the first half with starter Koenig on the bench with foul trouble. Trice had a couple shaky moments early, but found big man Ethan Happ inside for key buckets as the Badgers made a more concerted effort to get into the lane. … Among other seniors playing their final home games, Nigel Hayes had 12 points and six rebounds; Zak Showalter scored 12 points; and Vitto Brown had five points and six boards.

UP NEXT

Minnesota: Heads to the Big Ten Tournament in Washington with the fourth seed.

Wisconsin: Second seed in the conference tournament.