Mayer’s career-high 26 leads Illinois over Wisconsin 61-51

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Matthew Mayer scored 18 of his career-high 26 factors within the second half and Illinois defeated Wisconsin 61-51 on Saturday.

Mayer tied his profession excessive with 5 3-pointers and shot 9 of 19 general. Jayden Epps added 13 factors for the Preventing Illini (15-6, 6-4 Large Ten), who’ve received six of their final seven.

Chucky Hepburn scored 15 factors and Max Klesmit returned from a two-game harm absence to attain 12 for the Badgers (12-8, 4-6), losers of three straight and 6 of seven.

Mayer scored 10 factors in a 22-4 run that started halfway by way of the second half, erasing Wisconsin’s solely lead within the half and placing the Illini up by 17 with 4 minutes remaining.

After the groups mixed for the convention’s lowest-scoring first half this season, Illinois received off to a fast begin within the second with Mayer scoring eight of the Illini’s first 12 factors in taking a 12-point lead. However Wisconsin responded with a 15-2 run with Hepburn hitting a pair of 3-pointers plus a drive that put the Badgers up by some extent.

Illinois led 20-16 after the primary half. The Illini opened 1-of-7 taking pictures and Wisconsin 1 of 10 because the groups mixed for simply 5 factors by the primary media timeout. Illinois shot 33% and Wisconsin a dismal 18%, the groups combining to go 15 of 60 general and 5 of 24 from 3-point vary.

The groups rebounded to each go 13 of 24 from the ground for 54% within the second half. However Illinois was 11 of 18 on the line for the sport whereas Wisconsin was 4 of seven.

Illinois, which beat Wisconsin at house 79-69 on Jan. 7, has received six straight within the collection and three in a row in Madison.

Illinois is host to Nebraska on Tuesday. Wisconsin is at Ohio State on Thursday.

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