The Wisconsin Badgers got their sea legs back after spending three days in the Carribean, rallying past North Carolina State 79-75 at the Kohl Center Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge contest.
The Badgers went 2-1 at the Battle for Atlantis tournament last week in the Bahamas, falling to another ACC team, Virginia in the title game.
It appeared the Badgers still had their feet in the sand in the first half against the unbeaten Wolfpack, missing easy looks and trailing 36-29 at intermission.
The second half was a different story as the defense clamped down and the offense put up 50 points to erase a deficit that reached 12.
Ethan Happ led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds while D’Mitrick Trice added 18 for Wisconisn, ranked 22nd and now 6-1 on the season.
The Badgers will open Big Ten play Friday at Iowa.