Leuer leads Wisconsin in rout of UIC 79-43

MADISON, Wis. -- Jon Leuer scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the first half as Wisconsin defeated Illinois-Chicago 79-43 on Sunday.

Leuer, who has averaged 15.8 points over the past five games, was 6 of 8 from the field against the Flames (3-8) and also had a career-high five assists and seven rebounds.

The Badgers (10-2) got off to a sluggish start but closed the first half with a 21-9 run for a 35-19 lead. Leuer and Jason Bohannon combined for 15 points during that stretch. Leuer and Bohannon had a key exchange toward the end of the first half when Bohannon threw an overhead lob to Leuer, who hit a layup to give Wisconsin a 28-14 lead with 3:30 remaining.

Keaton Nankivil had a dunk off an assist by Hughes to give Wisconsin a 58-33 lead with 8:23 to play, and the Badgers later extended their lead to as many as 38 points.

Robo Kreps led Illinois-Chicago with 13 points, including a 40-foot 3-pointer that swished in at the first-half buzzer. Spencer Stewart added 11 points.

Bohannon hit 5-of-6 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. The Badgers hit 11 of 23 3s overall and were 7 of 11 in the first half.

Trevon Hughes had 12, Jordan Taylor 11 and Ryan Evans 10 for Wisconsin, which outrebounded Illinois-Chicago 40-19 and held the Flames to 36 percent shooting (18 for 50).