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Berggren scores 15, Jackson chips in with 14 points as Wisconsin rips No. 12 Illinois 74-51

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Wisconsin's Ryan Evans, left, fouls Illinois' Joseph Bertrand during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) (The Associated Press)

Wisconsin's Jared Berggren, right, intercepts a pass intended for Illinois's Sam McLaurin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) (The Associated Press)

Jared Berggren scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds, and Traevon Jackson added a career-best 14 points to lead Wisconsin over No. 12 Illinois 74-51 Saturday.

The Badgers (12-4, 3-0 Big Ten) scored the game's first 14 points and led by 20 at halftime on the way to their sixth straight win.

It was a stunning performance from a team that scored just 47 in the previous game against Nebraska, but a supposedly slow and methodical team locked into a higher gear and ended the suspense almost as soon as the game began.

Whether they were making 3-pointers, driving for layups, putting back misses or throwing down dunks, the Badgers had their way in this one. They outshot Illinois 49.1 percent to 35.3 percent, making 10 of 23 3-pointers, and outrebounded the Illini 43-24.