Top 25 roundup: No. 19 Wisconsin turns away upset bid

Badgers hold on to beat Illinois after leading by 17 in second half

MADISON, Wis. -- Max Klesmit’s 3-pointer put Illinois within 70-65 and left Wisconsin sweating the upset. The Badgers were up 50-33 with under 13 minutes to go when Illinois started to rally. Tyler Wahl answered with a driving layup as Wisconsin held on to beat the Illini 74-69 on Tuesday night. Wahl played for the first time since Jan. 1 and scored 11 points, all in the second half. Chucky Hepburn led Wisconsin (13-5, 4-4 Big Ten) with 18 points and seven assists. Connor Essegian added 16 points. Jayden Epps led Illinois (13-6, 4-4) with 23 points. Coleman Hawkins had 17 points and Dain Dainja had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Illinois missed 7 of 8 from the field after cutting the lead to 70-65.

Wahl’s layup plus a free throw gave Wisconsin a 73-65 edge with 3:28 left. Epps made two free throws to cut it 73-67 with 2:49 left and Illinois forced a shot-clock violation to get the ball back with 2:10 remaining. Essegian blocked Epps’ 3-point attempt and grabbed the rebound. Wisconsin turned it over, but Essegian came up with another rebound on the defensive end to give the Badgers the ball back with 22.5 seconds left. Hawkins missed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left and Essegian got the rebound to seal it.

Wisconsin made 10 of 10 from the free-throw line in the final 5:04.

The Badgers had been 6 for 11 from the line before that. Wisconsin made 5 of 8 from 3-point range in the first half and finished 6 for 15. Illinois made 4 of 19 from 3-point range. The Illini were 9 for 13 from the free-throw line. Wisconsin outrebounded Illinois 33-27. The Badgers host Michigan State on Saturday. Illinois hosts No. 1 Purdue on Friday.