Badgers bounced from NCAA Tournament with 72-61 loss to James Madison

BROOKLYN, NY (CBS 58) -- Max Klesmit scored 18 points, including five three-pointers, but the Badgers NCAA Tournament run ended after just one game with a 72-61 loss to James Madison Friday, March 22, at Barclays Center.

Wisconsin (22-14) went cold in the first half, scoring just 20 points as a team and finding themselves down by 13 at halftime. They never recovered, though Klesmit helped the game stay close with a barrage of threes after halftime.

Tyler Wahl, playing in his final game as a Badger, scored five points in 35 minutes.

The Badgers, the number five seed in the South region, have fallen victim to the 5-12 upset three times since 2013. Ole Miss beat Wisconsin in a surprise eleven years ago, and Oregon knocked off Wisconsin as a 12 seed in 2019. James Madison (32-3) joined that group this year thanks to four players scoring in double figures.

UW advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game last week but couldn't not translate that success over to the NCAA Tournament. They have won only two NCAA Tournament games in the last seven seasons.