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Wisconsin handles Northwestern

Feb 28, 2011 - 5:26 AM Madison, WI (Sports Network) - Jon Leuer poured in 26 points as 12th-ranked Wisconsin downed Northwestern, 78-63, at Kohl Center.

Jordan Taylor had 16 points and seven assists for the Badgers (22-6, 12-4 Big Ten), who have won three in a row and seven of eight. Keaton Nankivil added 15 points for the home team.

"I have said this before, we are very comfortable at the Kohl Center," Leuer said. "We are just in our normal routine, shooting at the baskets and using the balls that we always shoot with. We just have so much repetition there and I think that gives us a little more confidence with our shots."

Michael Thompson scored 19 points and Davide Curletti added 18 and six boards for the Wildcats (16-12, 6-11), losers of two straight and four of six.

Wisconsin tallied the first nine points of the contest, then led 20-7 after Wquinton Smith sank a three about eight minutes in.

The Badgers' edge reached 13 again later in the half, but a Thompson trey with 2:32 left pulled the Wildcats within 35-28. However, a brief burst, capped by a Tim Jarmusz three-pointer, gave the Badgers a 43-30 lead at halftime.

Leuer's dunk early in the second half staked the Badgers to a 51-35 edge, but the Wildcats began to chip away.

Thompson drained another trey to shrink the visitors' deficit to single digits, at 54-47. Drew Crawford then connected from long distance to make it a 57-52 game with 8:58 to play.

John Shurna then nailed one from beyond the arc, and Northwestern was within 58-55 with 7:14 left.

In stepped Leuer to hit a bucket that began a 12-4 burst, which sealed the outcome. Taylor sank a pair from beyond the arc during the run, including the final dagger with three minutes left for a 70-59 contest.

The Badgers shot 5-of-6 from the line down the stretch.

"There were a lot of good players, with Jon Leuer out there, we couldn't stop him all night," Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody said. "He got the ball, draws them right and turns it back over his left shoulder. You might need to take that away from guys and I don't think we did that tonight, especially with him."

Game Notes

Wisconsin finished the season a perfect 16-0 at home...Northwestern hasn't won in Madison since February 21, 1996, a span of 13 games...The Badgers shot 65.4 percent from the floor in the first half and finished at 57.4 percent (27- of-47) efficiency.