Mayer's career-high 26 leads Illinois over Wisconsin 61-51
AP
Jan 28, 2023
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Matthew Mayer scored 18 of his career-high 26 points in the second half and Illinois Fighting Illini defeated Wisconsin Badgers 61-51 on Saturday.
Mayer tied his career high with five 3-pointers and shot 9 of 19 overall. Jayden Epps added 13 points for the Fighting Illini (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten), who have won six of their last seven.
Chucky Hepburn scored 15 points and Max Klesmit returned from a two-game injury absence to score 12 for the Badgers (12-8, 4-6), losers of three straight and six of seven.
Mayer scored 10 points in a 22-4 run that began midway through the second half, erasing Wisconsin's only lead in the half and putting the Illini up by 17 with four minutes remaining.
After the teams combined for the conference's lowest-scoring first half this season, Illinois got off to a quick start in the second with Mayer scoring eight of the Illini's first 12 points in taking a 12-point lead. But Wisconsin responded with a 15-2 run with Hepburn hitting a pair of 3-pointers plus a drive that put the Badgers up by a point.
Illinois led 20-16 after the first half. The Illini opened 1-of-7 shooting and Wisconsin 1 of 10 as the teams combined for just five points by the first media timeout. Illinois shot 33% and Wisconsin a dismal 18%, the teams combining to go 15 of 60 overall and 5 of 24 from 3-point range.
The teams rebounded to both go 13 of 24 from the floor for 54% in the second half. But Illinois was 11 of 18 at the line for the game while Wisconsin was 4 of 7.
Illinois, which beat Wisconsin at home 79-69 on Jan. 7, has won six straight in the series and three in a row in Madison.
Illinois is host to Nebraska on Tuesday. Wisconsin is at Ohio State on Thursday.
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1st Half
ILL
Fighting Illini
20
WISC
Badgers
16
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Dain Dainja vs. Steven Crowl (Coleman Hawkins gains possession)
19:46
Terrence Shannon Jr. misses two point layup
19:44
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
19:27
Tyler Wahl misses two point layup
19:25
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
19:04
Matthew Mayer misses two point jump shot
19:02
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
18:53
Max Klesmit misses two point jump shot
18:51
Dain Dainja defensive rebound
18:45
+2
Jayden Epps makes two point layup
2-0
18:38
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists)
2-3
18:07
Jayden Epps misses two point jump shot
18:05
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
17:52
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
17:50
Fighting Illini defensive rebound
17:52
Tyler Wahl personal foul
17:27
Dain Dainja misses two point jump shot
17:25
Dain Dainja offensive rebound
17:21
Dain Dainja misses two point layup
17:19
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
17:02
Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot
17:00
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
16:44
Matthew Mayer misses two point layup
16:42
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
16:29
Max Klesmit misses two point jump shot
16:27
Dain Dainja defensive rebound
16:20
Terrence Shannon Jr. offensive foul (Max Klesmit draws the foul)
16:20
Terrence Shannon Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
16:10
Connor Essegian misses two point layup
16:08
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
16:01
Terrence Shannon Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Max Klesmit steals)
15:40
Terrence Shannon Jr. personal foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul)
15:40
TV timeout
15:26
Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot
15:24
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
15:07
Tyler Wahl personal foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul)
14:54
+3
Matthew Mayer makes three point jump shot
5-3
14:53
Max Klesmit shooting foul (Matthew Mayer draws the foul)
14:53
Matthew Mayer misses regular free throw 1 of 1
14:53
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
14:38
Chucky Hepburn misses three point jump shot
14:36
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
14:30
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
14:28
Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound
14:13
Jordan Davis turnover (traveling)
14:03
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
14:01
Jordan Davis defensive rebound
13:34
Matthew Mayer blocks Carter Gilmore's two point jump shot
13:32
RJ Melendez defensive rebound
13:26
+2
Matthew Mayer makes two point layup (RJ Melendez assists)
7-3
13:28
Badgers 30 second timeout
13:14
Sencire Harris personal foul
12:58
+2
Carter Gilmore makes two point layup (Steven Crowl assists)
7-5
12:39
Carter Gilmore shooting foul (Ty Rodgers draws the foul)