NO. 15 WISCONSIN 52, MINNESOTA 45: Jordan Taylor scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half as the host Badgers overcame a dreadful offensive performance in the first half to send the Golden Gophers to their sixth straight loss.

Ryan Evans added 12 points and eight rebounds for Wisconsin (22-8, 11-6 Big Ten), which won consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month despite shooting 4 of 21 in the opening half.

Following a 3-pointer from Taylor with 12:36 left in the first half to take an 11-8 lead, the Badgers mustered just five free throws for the remainder of the half but managed to stay in the game because the Gophers (17-13, 5-12) went over 15 minutes without a field goal, including a 8:04 stretch going into the break.

Taylor almost singlehandedly helped Wisconsin find its shooting stroke in the second half. The Badgers took the lead for good with 11:59 remaining after he hit a pair of free throws following a technical foul call on Gophers coach Tubby Smith, who appeared to have a valid argument that Andre Hollins was fouled on a 3-point attempt.

Taylor drilled a 3-pointer on the subsequent possession, and the Badgers eventually stretched the lead to as many as 10 points before Taylor put the game away at the foul line, where he hit all five of his attempts in the final minutes.

Hollins finished with 18 points for the Gophers, who shot a season-worst 23.9 percent from the field.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wisconsin’s 16 first-half points were a season-low for the team in either half. The Badgers missed 14 straight shots before Taylor ended the drought with a jumper with 18:38 remaining … The Gophers and Badgers combined to shoot a woeful 9 of 43 from the field in the first half … Both teams converted 10 more free throws than they did field goals.