Oct. 25, 2009
Box Score 
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MADISON, Wis. -- The senior-led White team may have pulled off the 45-36 win against its counterpart at the Red and White Scrimmage Sunday, but there were definitely positives from both teams. The nearly 5,000 fans filled the Kohl Center to see a sneak preview of the 2009-10 men's basketball team for the first time this season and Bo Ryan's men did not disappoint.
"If I could tell you how many people thanked us for doing this because they can't get tickets to the games, that's the main reason to do this," Ryan said after the scrimmage. "It's also a chance to give people a sneak preview of the younger guys. But also, we get to get under the lights with officials. I didn't grade out the officials yet, I'll have to give them that report card later. To get our guys out here with the clock running and in some game situations is always beneficial."
Under the direction of golf legend Steve Stricker, sophomore Jordan Taylor led the Red team to start the game, accompanied by Rob Wilson, Tim Jarmusz, Jon Leuer and Jared Berggren. Junior Brett Valentyn, alongside Ian Markolf and Dan Fahey rounded out the Red squad.
The senior backcourt of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon headed Andy North's White team, which also included Ryan Evans, J.P. Gavinski and Keaton Nankivil on the floor to start. Junior Wquinton Smith and freshman Mike Bruesewitz came off the bench for White.
Playing two 20-minute halves with a running clock, the White team took an early lead, totaling six points before the Red team put one through the hoop. Hughes knocked down a trey to get the scoring started, followed by two more 3-pointers to give the White team a quick 9-0 lead.
The Red team responded with yet another three to get on the scoreboard, as Wisconsin opened the season with four straight treys. White was up 14-9 with 8:07 left in the first, but the Red made a noble comeback to tie the game at 22 by halftime.
The Red team was unable to maintain its lead in the second half as its field-goal shooting took a nosedive while the White team ramped up. Flashing his great athleticism, Evans got a rise out of the crowd with back-to-back dunks for the White squad. Evans first flushed an alley-oop from Hughes midway through the second half, then threw down a breakaway dunk over Leuer moments later to give White a commanding lead.
"He's a guy who is so raw. We saw that in him," Ryan said of Evans, who finished with seven points
, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists. "I don't know what it's going to be like this year, but down the road Ryan Evans has a great chance of contributing to the team. He already has in practice, but let's see what happens in the next couple weeks and months."
With veterans like Bohannon and Hughes and Evan's big-time plays, the White team hung on to claim the nine-point win in the sneak-preview Badger scrimmage. For the second year in a row, Nankivil led all scorers in the Red and White Scrimmage, this time scoring 13 points. Bohannon also chipped in 10 points for White, while Wilson was the high-scorer for Red with 10.
"Just being able to play with my team and get out and run," Evans said when asked about what was special Sunday night. "Being able to see the floor again felt really good since I red-shirted last year. It was really fun for me."
After the game, Ryan put his team through one of its night-before-game rituals of a half-court shooting contest. Hughes put a quick end to the drill, giving White another win by netting a half-court shot on the first attempt. Fans filed out of the arena to find their favorite Badger players and coaches signing autographs in the atrium.
The Badgers will officially tip off the season on Wednesday, Nov. 4, when Bemidji State comes to the Kohl Center for an exhibition match-up.
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Kristyn Fons
Athletic Communications
