No. 19 Wisconsin hands Michigan State another loss
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.