No. 19 Wisconsin hands Michigan State another loss

MADISON, Wis. – Jordan Taylor scored 30 points to lead No. 19 Wisconsin in an 82-56 pounding of Michigan State on Sunday, the Spartans' fifth loss in six games.

The loss was just short of the Spartans' worst ever to the Badgers, a 27-point defeat in 1972, and comes on the heels of a 20-point loss to last-place Iowa.

Wisconsin shot 59 percent from the field for the game, including 11 of 17 from 3-point range.

One month ago in East Lansing, the Badgers (17-5, 7-3 Big Ten) had a nine-point lead with 2:37 to play. But they collapsed down the stretch as Michigan State (13-10, 5-6) forced overtime and went on to the win.

Wisconsin was in control of Sunday's game from the start and never let up. The Badgers led 43-25 at halftime after shooting 65 percent from the field. They led by as many as 33 points in the second half. as Taylor turned in a dominating performance.

Twice during a 14-2 first half run that gave Wisconsin its first double-digit lead of the game, Taylor took the ball into the lane and converted tough layups in traffic. A third time, he drew a foul and converted both free throws.

He capped off the run by saving an errant pass Jon Leuer threw to him as he cut toward the basket, tipping the ball to Mike Bruesewitz at the 3-point line. Bruesewitz then kicked it to Leuer, who drained a 3-pointer.

Leuer, who was held to 10 points in the Jan. 11 game at Michigan State, had 20 points and six rebounds on Sunday.

Kalin Lucas led Michigan State with 20 points.

The Spartans continued to fall farther behind in the second half, and a quick 11-0 run that started 5 minutes into the period pushed the game toward the embarrassing range.

Wisconsin wrapped eight free throws around a 3 by Leuer to push its lead to 66-33. The free throw splurge included four from Tim Jarmusz, two after he was elbowed in the face and was awarded two shots for an intentional foul.