It was a difficult first half for the Musketeers, as they trailed the entire first half.
Wisconsin started hot, shooting 3/3 from three point range as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first three and a half minutes. Xavier managed to stay even for a while after that, and trailed by as many as 11 points, with 9:35 left in the half.
They didn’t get with six until late, but they steadily clawed their way back to only be down 30-28 at half. The defense, outside of the early threes, looked completely different than the one against Evansville.