No. 10 Wisconsin nip No. 8 Purdue for share of Big Ten title

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Chucky Hepburn tried to keep a straight face as the freshman insisted he knew his game-winning 3-pointer was accurate as soon as he took the shot.

The laughter from his teammates told a different story.

Hepburn banked in a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to give No. 10 Wisconsin a 70-67 victory over No. 8 Purdue on Tuesday night that clinched the Badgers a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.

"I knew we were about to be Big Ten champs after I released it," Hepburn said before breaking out a grin.

The Badgers have plenty of reason to smile.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Wisconsin celebrates after defeating Purdue 70-67 in an NCAA college basketball game to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Wisconsin (24-5, 15-4 Big Ten) has won five straight and now has at least a share of its 20th Big Ten regular-season title. A victory Sunday at home against Nebraska would give the Badgers their first outright conference title since 2015, when they went on to reach the NCAA Tournament championship game.

Throughout its surprising season, Wisconsin's heard criticism that it's been lucky because it has won so many close games. This time, even the Badgers themselves could laugh at Hepburn's good fortune.

"I’m not going to lie," Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis said during the wild postgame celebration. "That was some bull... when that went in."

Each of Wisconsin’s last two baskets came on bank shots. Davis banked in a jumper from just inside the 3-point line to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 67-64 with 25 seconds left.

"In terms of what we did at the