The University of Wisconsin men's basketball team dropped their season opener Tuesday night by the thinnest of margins to the Saint Mary's Gaels, 65-63 in overtime. Saint Mary's entered the contest ranked number 20 and led for most of the game at the Kohl Center. The Badgers found themselves in a 30-24 hole at halftime and did not manage to tie the game until 3:29 left in regulation with the score 50-50.
Overtime was a nip-and-tuck affair but Badgers shooters went cold at the wrong time. Wisconsin could not score a point in the final 2:07 of the extra frame. Gaels forward Malik Fitts put Saint Mary's ahead 64-63 and Kyle Bowen added a free throw with four seconds left.
Wisconsin took nine fewer shots in the game and went just 5-19, 26.3 percent, from beyond the three-point line. Junior Nate Reuvers led the Badgers with 22 points.
