Jan. 18, 2012
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Site: Madison, Wis. (Kohl Center)
Score: Wisconsin 77, Northwestern 57
Records: NU (12-6, 2-4 Big Ten), Wisconsin (15-5, 4-3 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Jan. 22 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 3 p.m.
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MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin's red-hot shooting to start the second half was too much for Northwestern to overcome Wednesday evening at the Kohl Center as the Wildcats dropped a 77-57 decision.
The Badgers made six of their first seven 3-point attempts to start the second period as they were able to break open a two-point game at the half.
NU, which was limited to seven healthy scholarship players in the contest, was led by 19 points and six rebounds by John Shurna. Drew Crawford added 17 points.
Wisconsin surged out to a quick 9-2 lead as the Badgers hit their first three 3-point attempts. However, the Wildcats rode the hot hand of Shurna as NU responded with a 14-2 surge to go in front 16-11. Shurna posted 10 in the first five minutes of action to help the visitors surge in front.
The Badgers continued the string of runs as they scored 12 of the next 16 points to go back up 23-20 with 8:40 remaining in the stanza. The scoring eventually cooled off as neither team led by more than three the rest of the period with Wisconsin eventually taking a 34-32 advantage into the intermission.
Shurna led the way with 12 first-half points, while Drew Crawford chipped in with 11 and Dave Sobolewski added seven. NU connected on 54.5 percent of its first-half field goals (12-22), while the Badgers made 46.2 percent (12-26).
Wisconsin started the second half like it did the first, connecting from beyond the arc. Jordan Taylor was held to three points over the opening 20 minutes of play, but he hit three early triples and Josh Gasser made another as the Badgers surged in front 50-38 five minutes into the period.
Taylor would add a fourth trey and Ben Brust hit one as well to help the hosts pull away by the midway point of the period as NU was never able to get the deficit under double digits.
Ryan Evans scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half, while Taylor added 12 of his 15 after the break. Wisconsin connected on 12 of its 23 tries from beyond the arc in the contest.
The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. Sunday as they continue their road swing at Minnesota.
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