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MADISON, Wisc. – Five Buckeyes scored in double figures but No. 13 Wisconsin jumped out to an early lead and held on the rest of the way, beating No. 16 Ohio State Thursday evening, 78-68 inside the Kohl Center.
The loss drops the Buckeyes to 10-4 on the year and 4-2 in Big Ten play while Wisconsin improves to 14-2 and 5-1 in the conference.
E.J. Liddell led the Buckeyes with 18 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Jamari Wheeler had 11 points and a team-high three assists while Kyle Young, Zed Key and Malaki Branham all finished with 10 points.
Both teams shot the ball relatively well as the Buckeyes were at 50 percent (30-of-60) and Wisconsin shot 47 percent (27-of-58). But the difference came from beyond the arc. Ohio State was just 3-of-19 from distance, it’s fewest makes from long range this season while Wisconsin was 10-of-23. The Badgers came into the game shooting less than 30 percent from beyond the arc and averaged just 6.5 threes per game.
Wisconsin led by 40-27 at halftime as the Badgers were 7-of-13 from long range and the Buckeyes were 0-of-8. Wheeler scored seven of his 11 in the opening half.
The Buckeyes battled in the second half. Liddell scored 14 of his 18 points in the half and following a Wheeler lay-in and a Key dunk, the Badger lead was just six at 61-55 with under six minutes to play. But an 8-0 Wisconsin run extended the lead back out to 14 at 69-55 and that gave the Badgers the cushion they needed to hold on their fifth conference win of the season.
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Up Next
The Buckeyes will return home for three games next week starting with a Noon tip against Penn State on Sunday. Ohio State won 76-64 earlier this season in State College on Dec. 5.
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