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Tucker, Wisconsin overwhelm Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Dec 14, 2006 - 3:11 AM MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Alando Tucker and Wisconsin continue to enjoy the run of the state.

Tucker scored 20 points to lift No. 7 Wisconsin to its sixth straight victory, a 68-49 romp of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The Badgers (10-1) also made it six straight wins over intrastate foes and 14 consecutive against the Panthers to take a 23-1 lead in the all-time series. Wisconsin has not lost to Wisconsin-Milwaukee since December 12, 1992.

A Wooden Award candidate, Tucker scored 15 points in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting. The Badgers scored the first nine points of the game and then ran off 11 in a row for a 25-11 advantage with 4:20 to play.

"Sometimes runs like that happen at different times," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "It just happened to be at that time. For me to comment on it and say that is how we had it planned, I mean those were the opportunities that we had. We got the ball in pretty good position.

"Tuck knows how to finish around the paint; he had some good looks inside. And we got some other good looks, too. We got some separation."

Tucker provided the highlight of the opening 20 minutes, taking an alley-oop pass and converting a two-handed slam for a 30-16 lead.

Brian Butch hit a 3-pointer early in the second half to extend the margin to 40-22 and Wisconsin was not threatened thereafter.

"We still took pretty good care of the ball. We didn't allow too many easy baskets," Ryan said. "But what I like is, it was a grinder."

The Badgers made it a two-game sweep of Milwaukee opponents, having topped Marquette, 70-66, on Saturday, and are now 80-5 at the Kohl Center under Ryan.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-10), which beat Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, got 13 points from Paige Paulsen. The Panthers suffered their sixth consecutive loss.

Ryan improved to 6-0 against his former team but Panthers coach Rob Jeter said the rivalry is a healthy one.

"There are quality teams here in the state. There are quality programs with a lot of pride and tradition in every university," Jeter said. "The games should be played. We're all competitors, we all like to have fun, we've all played at one point, and the fans like to see it, so it's a privilege and it's an honor, and it's something that should be."