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Leuer leads Wisconsin over Illinois-Chicago

MADISON — Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins realized his team would have to contain a few hot-shooting players from Wisconsin, but big man Jon Leuer proved to more than a handful for the Flames.

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 seven rebounds and a career-high five assists.

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 and 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.

Collins said his team wasn’t athletic enough to handle Leuer and the Badgers.

“Leuer’s a special athlete. There’s no question about it,” Collins said of the 6-foot-10 junior. “You look at him on film and you know that he’s a guy who is going to make some money playing the game later on (after college).

“He’s fluid. He’s got a high release on his jump shot, and he’s extremely athletic. We knew that we had to try to stop him, but I think all of those guys are good.”

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said he was pleased with Leuer’s performance, especially considering the pressure he faced from the Flames.

“Jon was able to pass out of the post, and he found guys,” Ryan said. “That’s part of him maturing as a player. When that starts to happen, and one part of the game is taken away, then Jon understands that somebody has to be open.”

Trevon Hughes scored 12 points, and Wisconsin got 27 points from its reserves. Jordan Taylor had 11 and Ryan Evans 10.

Wisconsin outrebounded Illinois-Chicago 40-19 and held the Flames to 36 percent shooting (18 for 50).

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.