Evans scores 22 as No. 11 Wisconsin tops Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska's scouting report apparently didn't put much emphasis on Ryan Evans. Other Big Ten teams probably won't make the same mistake.

Evans scored a career-high 22 points and No. 11 Wisconsin defeated injury-plagued Nebraska 64-40 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Tuesday night.

Evans came in as the Badgers' No. 4 scorer at 9.9 points per game, and he had made just 2 of 7 3-point attempts in 13 games.

The junior forward hit 2 of 3 from long range against the Huskers and finished 9 of 11 overall after going 1 for 6 for five points against Mississippi Valley State on Friday.

"I'm sure they overlooked me," Evans said. "I wanted to get conference play off to the right start and I ended up hitting a few. Teammates were finding me."

The Huskers (8-4, 0-1) had scored the game's first seven points, but Evans' swirling 3-pointer tied it 10-all — and the Badgers (12-2, 1-0) were off on a 19-2 run.

Toney McCray's steal and layup just before the buzzer pulled the Huskers within 33-26 at the half, and it was a five-point game after he made a couple of free throws early in the second half.

Then the Badgers broke it open again by holding Nebraska to two field goals over 11 minutes, and with Jordan Taylor, Evans and Josh Gasser combining for three 3s in a 27-5 run.

Taylor added 15 points as the Badgers (12-2, 1-0) won their ninth consecutive conference opener.

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said Evans' production was a pleasant surprise.

"He was open. He got himself open. He had some open looks," Ryan said. "You always like that because it sends a message to other teams you're going to play that you can't play off of him too much. That was very welcome."

Nebraska forward Brandon Ubel said Evans wasn't totally neglected in preparation for the game.

"Our scouting report, he hadn't shot very many 3s on the year," Ubel said. "We were still playing him close out, get a hand in his face, don't let him tee it up. He hit the shots."

Evans said Taylor, the Badgers' point guard, built up his confidence by encouraging him to shoot in practice.