Liddell paces No. 21 Ohio State past No. 22 Wisconsin 73-55
AP
Dec 11, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) E.J. Liddell scored 28 points and No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes shot 50% to defeat No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers 73-55 on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (8-2) outscored the Badgers by 13 points in the second half, running away with the game after leading by five points at halftime.
''We wanted it more today, I feel like,'' Liddell said.
Zed Key finished with 11 points and Meechie Johnson Jr. scored eight, including a pair of 3-pointers in the second half. Kyle Young hauled in a career-high 14 rebounds.
Johnny Davis led the Badgers with 24 points and Brad Davison added 13. The loss halted Wisconsin (8-2) at six consecutive victories as it produced a season-low scoring output.
Ohio State outmatched Wisconsin on the glass, grabbing a season-high 49 rebounds to the Badgers' 28.
The Badgers led by as many as eight points in the first half, but a 12-point run midway through the half helped Ohio State regain the lead for good with 8:26 left. The Buckeyes shot 58% in the first half.
''I thought we got a little out of sync in the middle part of the first half,'' Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. ''They got rolling a little bit and we were never able to get back into a rhythm offensively like we had been in.''
The win improved Ohio State's home record to a 7-0 and marked the first time the Buckeyes defeated Wisconsin in Columbus since the 2016-17 season. The Buckeyes extended their winning streak to four games.
BREAKING DOWN THE DEFENSE
Wisconsin entered the game with the top-ranked defense in the Big Ten Conference, limiting opponents to 59.1 points per game.
The Badgers allowed more than 70 points for just the second time this season, as the Buckeyes averaged 1.05 points per possession.
''I thought early we were really soft with the ball,'' Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. ''We rounded into form and played with more force offensively.''
LIDDELL FLASHING CONSISTENCY
Liddell reached double figures again, doing so in all 10 games this season.
His 11 field goals were a career high, and he shot over 50% for the eighth time this season. Liddell had a stretch where he scored seven straight points for the Buckeyes in the second half.
''When we run our stuff, I feel like we're the best team in the nation easily,'' he said.
STAYING TOUGH
The Badgers shot 34% from the field, allowing Ohio State opportunities to snatch rebounds on missed shots.
The Buckeyes crashed the glass for 41 defensive rebounds, leading Wisconsin to score only two points on second-chance opportunities.
''It was a major point of emphasis,'' Holtmann said.
BIG PICTURE
Wisconsin: Shooting woes plagued the Badgers for the second straight game. Wisconsin wasn't so fortunate in this one after defeating Indiana on Wednesday on 35.5% shooting.
Ohio State: Turnovers remained an issue for the Buckeyes. They allowed 14 giveaways to Wisconsin, including 10 in the first half.
''When we do the simple things and take care of the ball, I feel like we get a great shot every time,'' Liddell said.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: Hosts Nicholls State on Wednesday.
Ohio State: Faces No. 10 Kentucky in Las Vegas on Dec. 18.
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1st Half
WISC
Badgers
29
OSU
Buckeyes
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Steven Crowl vs. Zed Key (Badgers gains possession)
19:44
Jonathan Davis misses two point jump shot
19:42
Zed Key defensive rebound
19:27
+3
E.J. Liddell makes three point jump shot (Justin Ahrens assists)
0-3
18:55
Brad Davison turnover (back court violation)
18:41
E.J. Liddell turnover (bad pass) (Jonathan Davis steals)
18:28
+2
Jonathan Davis makes two point floating jump shot (Tyler Wahl assists)
2-3
18:08
Malaki Branham turnover (bad pass)
17:56
Brad Davison misses two point layup
17:54
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
17:46
+2
Zed Key makes two point layup
2-5
17:33
Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot
17:31
Zed Key defensive rebound
17:26
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point layup (Jamari Wheeler assists)
2-7
17:09
+2
Jonathan Davis makes two point jump shot
4-7
16:41
Justin Ahrens misses three point jump shot
16:39
Jonathan Davis defensive rebound
16:27
+3
Brad Davison makes three point jump shot (Jonathan Davis assists)
7-7
16:01
Jamari Wheeler misses two point layup
15:59
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
15:53
Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot
15:51
Jamari Wheeler defensive rebound
15:43
E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
15:41
Brad Davison defensive rebound
15:33
+3
Brad Davison makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)
10-7
15:12
Jonathan Davis personal foul
15:12
TV timeout
14:52
Jamari Wheeler misses three point jump shot
14:50
E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
14:50
Ben Carlson personal foul
14:43
Kyle Young misses three point jump shot
14:41
E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
14:34
+2
E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot
10-9
14:11
Kyle Young personal foul
13:59
Jonathan Davis misses two point jump shot
13:57
Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
13:47
E.J. Liddell turnover (bad pass) (Jonathan Davis steals)