• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Taylor, Wisconsin hold off upstart Ohio State

Jan 10, 2007 - 7:16 AM MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Kammron Taylor and Wisconsin showed that Ohio State still has a ways to go in beating a ranked team on the road.

Taylor scored a season-high 25 points and Alando Tucker added 17 as the fourth-ranked Badgers continued its mastery at home, holding on for a 72-69 victory over the No. 5 Buckeyes in a Big Ten Conference clash.

Already losing at No. 2 North Carolina and top-ranked Florida this season, Ohio State (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten) overcame a shaky start but could not pull off a late rally to chalk up what would have been a rare home loss for Wisconsin.

Instead, the Badgers (16-1, 2-0) improved upon its impressive record here under coach Bo Ryan, improving to 40-2 in Big Ten games and 13-2 vs. ranked teams in the last six years.

Helping Wisconsin in its latest encounter was a crowd of 17,190 - the 65th consecutive sellout here at Kohl Center. The Badgers have won their last 16 home games.

Although it held a 69-59 advantage after two free throws by Taylor with 54 seconds left, Wisconsin was left to sweat out a close one after Ron Lewis' 3-pointer with 27 seconds cut Ohio State's deficit to just three.

Joe Krabbenhoft made the first of two free throws moments later to give the Badgers' a 71-67 edge, but freshman sensation Greg Oden dunked inside - just his third field goal of the game - with 8.9 seconds left.

After Taylor, who finished 12-of-16 from the stripe, was only able to make the first of two free throws, the Buckeyes had a chance to tie the game but Jamar Butler's 3-point attempt from the right wing as time expired hit the back of the rim.

It was the first loss in four games for Ohio State, which shot just 28 percent (9-of-32) in the first half to trail, 31-28, at the break. At one point, it missed 12 straight shots.

The Buckeyes also committed 15 turnovers en route to being held below 70 points for just the third time this season.

Michael Flowers and Marcus Landry scored 10 points apiece for Wisconsin, which captured its 12th straight win.

Ivan Harris scored 17 points and Lewis 14 for the Buckeyes, who received only 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting from Oden. The 7-footer did grab seven rebounds and blocked six shots.

Oden was basically a non-factor as youthful Ohio State favored the 3-point shot. It finished 12-of-26 (46 percent) from the arc, with Harris going 5-for-11 and Butler 4-of-8.