Bo Ryan
5th-ranked Wisconsin was trying to gain a share of the Big Ten regular-season basketball title, but a poor first half had the Badgers doing nothing but playing catch-up.
Wisconsin scored just 20 points in the first half and a late rally fell short against 14th ranked Maryland. The Badgers fell to the Terrapins 59-53 in College Park, Maryland.
Wisconsin (25-3, 13-2) saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end, shooting just 30% from the field in the first half and hitting just 1 of 11 from beyond the arc. The 20 points in the first half is the fewest total in a half for the Badgers this season.
Wisconsin trailed by 11 at halftime but battled back in the second half to eventually draw even at 47-47. But Maryland finished the final six minutes of the game on a 12-6 run to pull away and win.
Bo Ryan’s Badgers had no answer for Dez Wells (26 points) and Melo Trimble (16 points). Wisconsin couldn’t stop ball penetration and couldn’t convert from three-point range (6 for 22).
Frank Kaminsky scored 18 for Wisconsin and Sam Dekker added 14 to lead the Badgers.
Maryland (23-5, 11-4) improved to 17-1 at home and are now 9-0 in games decided by six points or less.
The Badgers return to Madison to face a much improved Michigan State team on senior day at the Kohl Center this Sunday. With three games left to play, the Badgers can still lock up a share of the Big Ten title with a victory. Two wins and Wisconsin wins the title outright.
AUDIO: Bo Ryan says falling behind early cost them :12
AUDIO: Asst. Lamont Paris said the second half was better :19