Gophers Streak Ends in Madison

MADISON, Wis. -- Maybe it's a mental thing. No matter how well the Gophers are playing, when the team heads to Madison, they just can't get over the hump.

Badgers 66, Gophers 49. The last time the U beat Wisconsin there was 2009.

It was a good first half for the Gophers, up by two at the break, but in the second half Wisconsin's senior guard Bronson Koenig, on the bench most of the first half with foul trouble, came out firing.

Koenig scored all 17 of his points in the second half and hit five 3s, combining with backup point guard D'Mitrik Trice to help spark a critical win for Wisconsin (23-8, 12-6 Big Ten) and secure the second seed in the conference tournament.

Minnesota came in riding an eight-game winning streak while the Badgers had lost 5 of their last 6. Nate Mason had 17 points for Minnesota (23-8, 11-7).

The Gophers shot just 7 of 30 in the second half (23 percent) and were out-rebounded 24-17 in the period.

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