Dec. 27, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Box Score (PDF) 
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's basketball team doused the Illinois-Chicago Flames, 79-43, Sunday at the Kohl Center to round out the non-conference portion of its schedule. The Badgers built a comfortable 16-point lead in the first half and cruised to a win to head into Big Ten play with record of 10-2.
The Badgers had five players score in double figures for the first time this season as junior Jon Leuer led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Sophomore Rob Wilson led all rebounders with a career-high eight boards.
| Wisconsin 79, Illinois-Chicago 43 | 1st | 2nd | Final |
| Illinois-Chicago (3-8) | 19 | 24
| 43 |
| Wisconsin (10-2) | 35 | 44 | 79 |
| Statistical Leaders |
| Points: Jon Leuer (UW) 17 | Robo Kreps (UIC) 13 |
| Rebounds: Rob Wilson (UW) 8 | Jeremy Buttell (UIC) 5 |
Assists: Jon Leuer (UW) 5 | Spencer Stewart (UIC) 4
|
UW was a bit sluggish out of the gates, trailing 4-2 at the first media timeout. Jordan Taylor jump-started the Badgers with a basket from the post, showing off the tried-and-true Wisconsin-style swing offense. Leuer and Taylor traded baskets before a 3-pointer from Jason Bohannon capped a 10-2 run. Bohannon would finish would 15 points on five triples in just six attempts.
The Badgers held UIC to a four minute scoreless streak midway through the first half. The Badgers started to sink their shots by the eight-minute mark, drawing their lead out to 35-19 by half. Wisconsin caught fire from outside, connecting on 7-of-11 first-half treys.
The Flames seemed to come out of the half determined to cut UW's lead, but the Badgers maintained close to a 20-point lead throughout the second half. Bohannon ramped up a dwindling lead with a deep three with 12:25 left. With one of UIC's starting forwards fouling out with 9:02, there was little to stop the Badgers from a pulling away. With 7:45 left in the game, Keaton Nankivil put an exclamation point on the game with a tremendous dunk to give the Badgers a 25-point lead. In the last 13:24 of the game, UIC only managed to add 14 points and watched the Badgers rattle off 33 over that span.
Wisconsin managed to empty out the bench Sunday as 14 players saw court time. Then UW bench contributed 27 points altogether. Senior Brett Valentyn knocked down his first two career free throws with just under two minutes left to add to UW's win.
From there, the Badgers cruised to a comfortable 79-43 win, their fourth straight.
Wisconsin hosts Ohio State at the Kohl Center on Thursday, Dec. 31st in their Big Ten opener. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT.
