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Wisconsin uses second-half push to extend win streak

Jan 18, 2007 - 6:52 AM MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Michael Flowers helped Wisconsin deal with another halftime deficit.

Flowers scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half as the third-ranked Badgers posted their 14th consecutive win with a 69-64 Big Ten Conference victory over Purdue.

Alando Tucker had 14 points despite some rough shooting for Wisconsin (18-1, 4-0 Big Ten), which is tied with New Mexico State for the longest winning streak in the nation.

Despite the stellar run, the Badgers had to overcome a deficit at the break in each of their last two games. After trailing by two points in an eventual 56-50 win at Northwestern on Saturday, Wisconsin found itself down once again after Gordon Watt's 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining in the first half gave Purdue a 30-29 edge.

The Boilermakers (13-6, 2-3) extended the lead to five points after Watt sank a hook shot and a reverse layup in the opening 18 seconds after the break. However, Purdue could not shake Wisconsin, which improved to 41-2 in league games at home under coach Bo Ryan.

The Badgers took their first lead at 40-39 on a 3-pointer by Jason Chappell with 13:45 remaining. Chappell, who scored eight of his 13 points after the break, earlier tied the game at 34-34 on another shot from the arc.

"He was patient," Ryan said. "Kam (Kammron) Taylor and Brian Butch have never been left that wide open from 3-point (range). Jason had time to gather himself because they were playing off of him."

Chappell also made his mark on the defensive end, drawing a charge on Purdue's top player, Carl Landry, about a minute later as Wisconsin built a 47-41 lead with 10:32 to go.

Flowers scored four straight points on two free throws and a jumper, making it 51-43 with 8:57 left. The Boilermakers got no closer than six points thereafter.

Taylor scored 13 points despite going 0-of-6 on 3-pointers for the Badgers, who won despite shooting 18 percent (3-of-17) from the arc.

Watt finished with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting for Purdue, which dropped its eighth consecutive trip here.

Entering the contest averaging 19.6 points, Landry finished with 16 on 6-of-12 shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds, but also committed six turnovers without an assist.

"He still got some points, did some good things," Ryan said of Landry. "I thought (the defense) played well and had him looking to go different ways, trying to get him to do different things than score."

The contest with Wisconsin was more than just a big league road game for Landry, whose younger brother Marcus is a key reserve for the Badgers.

Marcus Landry finished with four points and five rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. He also had a block, rejecting Carl's layup attempt with the Boilermakers hold a slim 38-36 edge with 14:35 to play.