Dec. 13, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Alando Tucker scored 20 points to lead seventh-ranked Wisconsin to a 68-49 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.

Paige Paulsen led Milwaukee (2-10) with 13 points, while Allan Hanson added eight.

Wisconsin took control of the game with an 11-0 midway through the first half and never let the Panthers get any closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Brian Butch scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Kammron Taylor added 10 points for the Badgers (10-1).

But it was Tucker that sparked the key run for Wisconsin, scoring six of his 15 first-half points during the burst.

"He hit some key jump shots in that stretch, and that's why he's one of the best players in the country," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "The difference in that stretch was the things Alando Tucker can do one-on-one."

Despite that run, Wisconsin could never truly put the Panthers away. UWM shot just 32 percent from the field but did use their offense to get touches in the post and near the basket before finding it difficult to score around the bigger and taller Badgers.

"I thought we got open looks tonight," Jeter said. "We got the ball in the post and into areas we can hurt some people in."

After falling down 9-0, the Panthers rallied with threes from Smith and Paulsen to pull within 9-6. UWM eventually closed the gap to 11-9 on another Paulsen three with 13:50 remaining and was still within 14-11 on an Allan Hanson jumper with 9:30 left.

But, Wisconsin went on an 11-0 run over the next 4:30, eventually leading 25-11 on a Marcus Landry basket. The Panthers did pull back to within 25-14 on a Nick Hansen three with 4:15 remaining, but the Badgers pushed their lead back to 35-20 at the half.

Wisconsin quickly expanded its lead to 45-26 early in the second half before the Panthers struck back, pulling within 45-30 on a basket by Marcus Skinner and eventually within 49-35 when Smith followed his own miss with 8:02 left. But, the Badgers countered with seven of the next eight points to build a 20-point lead with 5:30 left and were never threatened from there.

UWM will take the next week-plus off for final exams before returning to action Friday, Dec. 22 at Sam Houston State. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST and will be televised on WMLW in Milwaukee and nationwide on ESPN's Full Court package.