Hughes, Badgers down struggling Illini

Posted: Thu Feb 21 12:32 AM

Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Trevon Hughes scored 18 points and Marcus Landry added 17 as No. 11 Wisconsin defeated Illinois, 71-57, at Assembly Hall.

Jason Bohannon added 15 points for the Badgers (22-4, 12-2 Big 10),who have won three straight and moved into a first place tie with Purdue in the Big 10.

Demetri McCamey scored 18 points and Shaun Pruitt added 16 for the Illini (11-16, 3-11), who have dropped two straight.

Trailing 8-4, The Badgers went on a 21-7 run. Greg Stiemsma's jumper with 6:20 remaining in the first half gave Wisconsin a 25-15 lead. Bohannon had two threes, Hughes and Michael Flowers one apiece during the surge.

Illinois got no closer than six the rest of the way.

Leading 34-25 at the half, Wisconsin continued to pull away in the second. Two free throws by Hughes with eight minutes left in the half gave the Badgers a commanding 56-40 lead.

The Illini, who are now guaranteed their first losing regular season since 1999, committed 20 turnovers and allowed the Badgers to shoot 46 percent (23- of-50) from the field and 50 percent (7-of-14) from three-point range.

Game Notes

Illinois forward Brian Randle left the game with a sprained shoulder early in the first half. He did not return...McCamey scored all his points in the second half...Illinois shot 43.6 percent (17-of-39) from the field and 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from three-point range...Pruitt scored just two points in the second half...Flowers finished with nine points...Purdue was idle after Tuesday's loss to Indiana...Attendance was 16,618.