Wisconsin 74, No. 13 Illinois 51: Jared Berggren collected 15 points and 12 rebounds and Traevon Jackson added 14 points as the host Badgers ran their win streak to a season-high six games and remained unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play.
Sam Dekker chipped in 13 points off the bench and Ryan Evans scored 10 for Wisconsin (12-4, 3-0), which has won its past four meetings with the Illini and 11 of 15.
This one was never in doubt, as the Badgers reeled off the game's first 14 points and never trailed. D.J. Richardson scored 16 points and Joseph Bertrand added 12 off the bench for Illinois (14-4, 1-3), which has dropped four of six since a 12-0 start.
Wisconsin held a 39-19 halftime lead after holding the Illini to 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) from the field in the first half. The advantage grew as large as 28 before Illinois began to chip away. The Illini got as close at 54-36, but the Badgers answered with a 7-1 spurt and never again let the margin dip below 20.
Illinois leading scorer Brandon Paul was limited to a season-low eight points on 1-for-11 shooting. Paul had scored in double figures in every game this season.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The first team to reach 60 points has won 22 of the past 23 meetings between the schools. … Wisconsin has held its last 10 opponents to 60 points or less. … The Illini recorded just two assists. Their previous season low was six against Norfolk State.
Illinois | Wisconsin | |
D.J. Richardson 16 | Scoring | Jared Berggren 15 |
Joseph Bertrand 1 | Assists | Ben Brust 3 |
Joseph Bertrand 7 | Rebounds | Jared Berggren 12 |
Brandon Paul 5 | Free Throws Made | Jared Berggren 2 |
D.J. Richardson 3 | Steals | Jared Berggren 1 |
Nnanna Egwu 1 | Blocks | Jared Berggren 2 |