Career game for La Crosse’s Johnny Davis, who dropped 30 for Badgers over No. 12 Houston

Back-to-back career games for La Crosse native Johnny Davis.

The sophomore guard dropped 30 points in leading the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team to a 65-63 win over No. 12 Houston in Round 2 of the Maui Invitational.

Davis had a career high in points and steals and tied a career high in 3-pointers for the Badgers, who play in the Maui championship at 4 p.m. against Saint Mary’s University (6-0).

The 6-foot-5 guard was 10 of 18 from the field and 4 of 7 from deep. He also had four rebounds, four steals, two blocks, an assist and two turnovers.

The Badgers were up 40-20 at halftime but watched that lead slowly dwindle down. It was 55-52 Wisconsin before Davis hit two free throws, then got a steal and threw down a dunk to push the lead back to 59-52.

Houston cut it to 59-56, but Davis answered with a layup with 2:50 remaining.

With 40 seconds to go Houston nailed a 3-pointer to pull within two.

The Badgers ran the clock down to 10 seconds, before Davis missed a jumper. Houston got the rebound but on the final possession had a miscommunication on a drive and dish, never getting a shot off.