No. 15 Wisconsin 70, Illinois 56: Josh Gasser collected 16 points and eight rebounds and the host Badgers used their top-ranked team defense to stifle the fumbling Fighting Illini.

Jordan Taylor added 16 points and Jared Berggren scored 12 for Wisconsin (23-8, 12-6 Big Ten), which will get a first-round bye in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.

Illinois (17-14, 6-12 Big Ten) finished its regular season having lost 11 of its last 13 games to fall from the top 25 all the way off the bubble.

The Badgers, who lead the nation in scoring defense, never let the Fighting Illini get anything started on Saturday. Illinois managed only one basket in the first 6:32 as Wisconsin used a pair of 3-pointers from Rob Wilson to jump out to a 14-2 lead.

The Badgers led 31-18 at the half and were barely challenged after the break.

The Illini did enough in the second half to raise their field goal percentage to 39.6 for the game but never crept closer than nine points.

Brandon Paul was the only starter to reach double figures with 22 points for Illinois.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Badgers went 21 for 27 at the free throw line, with Taylor hitting six in the final minute to seal the win… The Illini have not reached 70 points in a game since Feb. 5… Illinois center Meyers Leonard grabbed 12 rebounds.