March 12, 2010

Notes | Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

VIDEO: Highlights | VIDEO: Post-game interviews

INDIANAPOLIS -- Senior guard Trevon Hughes shook off an extremely cold start to help No. 13 Wisconsin mount a furious rally over the final two minutes, but Illinois held on for a 58-54 win in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Big Ten Conference Tournament.

Hughes finished with 14 points despite missing his first 11 shots from the floor, as he connected on four-consecutive 3-pointers over the game's final 1:44 to draw the fourth-seeded Badgers within two points, at 56-54, with 31 seconds remaining.

Hughes fouled out on Illinois' next possession, sending Jeff Jordan to the free-throw line. Jordan made the first but missed the second, giving senior guard Jason Bohannon a chance to tie it from the right wing.

But Bohannon missed, Illinois' Mike Davis grabbed the loose ball and the Badgers never got another chance to tie it.

Go Beyond the Box scores with stats and analysis

Mike Tisdale scored 21 points and Demetri McCamey had 13 as fifth-seeded Illinois held on for the upset. The Fighting Illini (19-13) are hoping the win solidifies their NCAA hopes.

Wisconsin (23-8) was led by Hughes and Jon Leuer, each with 14 points. Hughes led a frantic flurry in the closing minutes that got the Badgers in position to force overtime. But Bohannon's 3-pointer with 15.9 seconds left clanked off the front of the rim, Davis grabbed the rebound for Illinois, made 1 of 2 free throws and the Illini hung on.

The loss ended Wisconsin's four-game winning streak and prevented coach Bo Ryan from earning his 600th career win.

The Badgers were a factor down the stretch despite shooting just 28.6 percent from the field in the game and going 6-for-33 from the field in the first half.

Illinois took its biggest lead of the game at 46-30 when Brandon Paul hit a 3-pointer with 6:44 left.

That's when the Badgers finally jump-started. Jordan Taylor and Bohannon hit back-to-back 3s and Leuer followed with a 19-footer to make it 46-38 with 3:58 to go.

The Illini rebuilt a 50-38 lead, but then Hughes almost single-handedly shot the Badgers back into the game.

He knocked down his first 3-pointer with 1:44 to play, cutting the Illini lead to 50-41. After a trey by Nankivil narrowed the lead to seven, and a free throw by Leuer cut it further, Hughes splashed a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to draw Wisconsin within 54-51.

Another trifecta 10 seconds later cut the lead to 56-54. That was as close as the Badgers would get, however.

Wisconsin now turns its attention to the NCAA tournament, and the Badgers will learn their fate when CBS airs the Selection Show at 5 p.m. Sunday.

---
The Associated Press contributed to this report.