Markus Domask had 31 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 23 as No. 13 Illinois pulled away late for a 91-83 victory over host Wisconsin on Saturday in Madison.
Chucky Hepburn’s free throw brought Wisconsin within 72-69 with 4:14 remaining, but the Illini responded with a 9-2 run. Shannon’s three-point play put Illinois up 81-71 with 2:11 left.
Illinois (22-7, 13-6 Big Ten Conference) extended its winning streak to seven against Wisconsin, after the Badgers had won the previous 15 meetings.
Domask, a native of Waupun, Wisc., had transferred to Illinois after four seasons at Southern Illinois. He hit 12 of 21 shots, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, along with pulling down a game-high eight rebounds.
Tyler Wahl had 20 points for Wisconsin (18-11, 10-8), which lost at home for just the third time in 16 games. Max Klesmit added 16 and Hepburn 15 for the Badgers, who have lost 7 of 9 after a 16-4 start and a No. 6 ranking.
Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl, who entered averaging 11.2 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds, had just four points and four boards in 14 minutes due to foul trouble.
Illinois shot 51.8 percent (29 of 56) from the floor, including 56 percent in the second half on 14-of-25 shooting. Wisconsin shot 50 percent but 47.1 percent after the break.
The Badgers tied it 68-68 on a 3-pointer by John Blackwell with 5:44 left in regulation, but the Illini went back in front on Domask’s layup and Shannon’s two free throws.
AJ Storr’s dunk had pulled Wisconsin even at 59-59, but Illinois responded with seven consecutive points. Justin Harmon’s layup put the Illini up 66-59 with 8:22 remaining.
Illinois led 39-37 at the half and pushed the lead to 46-39 on Coleman Hawkins’ layin. Wisconsin rallied to tie at 47-47.
Klesmit hit a 3-pointer and then added two free throws on the next possession to put the Badgers in front 54-42 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
–Field Level Media