Showalter perfect: Wisconsin tops Rutgers 79-57

MADISON — Zak Showalter scored 21 points on a perfect shooting performance, Ethan Happ added a double-double, and Wisconsin beat Rutgers 79-57 on Saturday.

Showalter hit all eight shots he took from the field, including four 3-pointers, and his only free throw. Happ, meanwhile, scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Wisconsin (9-6, 1-1 Big Ten), while Bronson Koenig added 14.

Mike Williams led Rutgers (6-9, 0-2) with 20 points, while Bishop Daniels added 11.

The Badgers shot 56 percent in the first half as they took a 42-31 lead into the break. But Wisconsin went without a field goal on its first 11 possessions of the second half, settling for just three free throws over the first seven minutes.

But then it was Rutgers' turn to go cold. After a layup by Daniels made it 45-41, the Scarlet Knights hit only two field goals over a seven-minute stretch as Wisconsin pushed its lead to 63-45 on a layup by Koenig that completed an 18-4 run.