WEST LAFAYETTE (WKOW)- 9 Wisconsin defeated 8 North Carolina 85-62 on Friday night at Mackey Arena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Wisconsin Senior Guard Brad Davison had a career-high 29 points going 5-7 from behind the arc and 10-15 from the floor. Senior Guard D'Mitirk Trice finished with 21 points.
"Extremely special," Davison said. "That's why you come to Wisconsin. Not only to compete for championships in the Big Ten but to make a run in March in the NCAA tournament especially having that opportunity missed out on last year. This is so special."
"We're going to enjoy it but, we also know that we didn't come here to just win one," Davison continued. "There's a lot more out there for us to get, and we're excited to get to work, but we're going to enjoy this one tonight for sure."
The Badgers shot well all game finishing 13-27 (48.1 percent) from three-point range and 31-61 (50.8 percent) from the floor.
Defensively, the Badgers had eight blocked shots and held the Tar Heels to 5-13 from three-point range. Wisconsin out-rebounded North Carolina 37-34 which was a key to the game as the Tar Heels are the best rebounding team in the country.
At halftime, Wisconsin held a 16 point lead. The Badgers set the tone shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range in the first 20 minutes.
"I thought things were trending the right way if they would just stick to it and stay the course, and obviously I am happy that they did and proud of them for how they have continued to battle through a strenuous schedule and get to this point and have an opportunity to play here," Head Coach Greg Gard said. "Really proud of how well they played."
Next up: 9 Wisconsin faces off against 1 Baylor on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Game details are TBD.
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