Wisconsin 65, No. 15 Ohio State 43: Seven Straight Wins In Big Ten Openers For Badgers

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December 31, 2009 - Madison, WI (Sports Network) - Trevon Hughes made 3-of-5 from three-point range and finished with a game-best 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, as 23rd-ranked Wisconsin routed 15th-ranked Ohio State, 65-43, in the Big Ten opener for both teams at the Kohl Center.

Jordan Taylor donated 12 points and Jon Leuer finished with 11 points and five assists for Wisconsin (11-2, 1-0 Big Ten), which has won five straight, including a 79-43 trouncing of Illinois-Chicago on Sunday.

Keaton Nankivil added nine points for the Badgers, who have won their last seven Big Ten openers and 11 Big Ten home openers dating back to a loss to Ohio State in 1999.

William Buford ended with a team-best 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Ohio State (10-3, 0-1), which had won three straight and eight of nine coming into the contest.

David Lighty ended with 10 points, while Jon Diebler and P.J. Hill went for eight points apiece.

Ryan Evans’ layup in the early going sent Wisconsin on a 23-7 run that ended on a jumper by Jason Bohannon for a 30-14 advantage with 6:21 left in the opening half.

However, OSU closed with an 11-4 burst and trailed by a 34-25 score at the break.

The Badgers continued to control play in the second half. Leuer drilled a three-pointer in the opening minute to put Wisconsin up by double-figures and the lead quickly swelled to 50-30 after another Leuer make.

Ohio State shot just 27.3 percent in the second half as Wisconsin cruised to the victory.

Despite the loss, OSU owns an 84-66 lead over Wisconsin in the all-time series, but the Badgers have won the last eight meetings in Madison...This was the 42nd time the Buckeyes have opened Big Ten play on the road and they have gone 18-24 all-time in such games...Bohannon finished with eight points and Evans ended with four.