Wisconsin vs. Syracuse: Score and Reaction from Big 10/ACC Challenge

Wisconsin (5-3) picked up its biggest win of the season on Wednesday night, a 66-58 overtime victory over No. 14 Syracuse (6-1) in the Big 10/ACC challenge.

The early parts of the 2015-16 season haven't gone the way many expected for these two teams. Syracuse, a team that struggled last season, entered Wednesday night undefeated at 6-0, including wins against UConn and Texas A&M.     

For Wisconsin, this isn't the reply they would have wanted coming off an appearance in the national championship game. An opening loss to Western Illinois set the table for a sluggish 4-3 start as the team looked to be missing Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, who were both drafted into the NBA during the offseason. 

On Wednesday, though, no Kaminsky, no Dekker, no problem, as it was forwards Ethan Happ and Vitto Brown who carried the Badgers.    

Happ had a team-high 18 points and 15 rebounds on the night as a menacing presence down low along with Nigel Hayes, who added 15 and 12. They helped control down low, as Wisconsin out-rebounded Syracuse 51-25.

Brown scored 14 points in total, recording 11 of Wisconsin's 27 first-half points. It was unlike him, as Syracuse.com's Mike Waters pointed out:

It was needed, as their leading scorer, Bronson Koenig, was held to just five points in the first half and ended the night with 12.

Brown's efforts helped Wisconsin open up a lead as large as seven, but Syracuse stayed with the Badgers every step of the way despite hitting just nine field goals in the first half.

For fan account DCF, it was shocking to see Syracuse trailing 27-24 at the half:

While the offensive struggles continued for both teams, Syracuse was able to get back and tie the game at 32 six minutes into the second half. 

It took its first lead since midway through the first half thanks to the three ball. After hitting just two in the game's first 30 minutes, Syracuse hit three straight three-pointers to build a six-point lead. 

Most of it was thanks to Trevor Cooney who hit two three-pointers and had 11 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

For 247Sports' Evan Flood, it was confirmation of a huge opportunity missed by Wisconsin:

Wisconsin managed to keep the game within a couple of possessions after relinquishing the lead. Brown scored his first points of the second half with five minutes to go in the game to tie it at 48. 

Michael Gbinije helped reopen a six-point lead with 3:14 to go with a three-pointer, his fourth of the night on his way to a game-high 19 points. But Wisconsin came right back, tying the game at 53 with 1:19 to go through a Koenig three, his first points of the second half. 

Holding the ball for a last-second shot, Syracuse turned it over off of the hands of Tyler Lydon, giving Wisconsin the ball back with 10.4 seconds remaining, but the Badgers were unable to provide a winner. 

In overtime, it was Hayes who sparked the Badgers' win, using a big three-point play to take the lead, one Wisconsin wouldn't give up. Hayes had 10 of his 15 points in the second half and overtime. 

This is the kind of confidence-boosting win Wisconsin was desperate to get. With such a different-looking roster compared to last year, a quality win against a once-undefeated team proved to the Badgers they are capable of winning big games. 

Post-Game Reaction

With a big win under his belt, Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan was feeling pretty good. It showed when he walked into the media room at Syracuse, per the Daily Orange's Matt Schneidman:

Scout.com shows Ryan's post-game press conference:

It's a tough loss for Syracuse, who has been a very busy basketball team. After playing three games in the Bahamas at the Battle 4 Atlantis over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Orange had to face the Badgers and Georgetown next. 

Orange head coach Jim Boeheim took the blame, via Syracuse.com's Brent Axe:

Luckily for both teams, it's only the beginning of December. Syracuse has a chance to wipe out this loss with a strong showing against Georgetown while Wisconsin can still turn their season around and make this slow start a distant memory. 

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com