Wisconsin slips past Penn State

The Badgers have won nine straight over the Lions.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan had only one minor quibble with Marcus Landry’s performance Saturday.

His emphatic block in the closing minutes landed in the hands of Penn State’s Danny Morrissey, who had a clear shot from behind the 3-point arc.

But Morrissey missed and Landry poured in 23 points to lead the Badgers to a 65-61 Big Ten win over the Nittany Lions on Saturday, so Ryan wasn’t about to complain too much.

“He played a complete game, and we needed it,” Ryan said.

The victory extended Wisconsin’s winning streak over Penn State to nine games. But it was nothing like recent matchups between them, including Wisconsin’s two wins last season by an average of more than 30 points.

Wisconsin (11-3, 2-0) couldn’t shake Penn State (12-3, 1-1 Big Ten) for much of the game, and watched as the Nittany Lions hit 3-pointers on four straight possessions just more than midway through the second half to go up 52-51.

But the Badgers battled back and found some breathing room at 59-54 with less than two minutes to go after Joe Krabbenhoft hit a pair of free throws.

Still, the Nittany Lions continued to respond. Penn State’s Jamelle Cornley converted a three-point play, and Stanley Pringle countered a pair of Trevon Hughes free throws with a 3-pointer to make it 61-60.

Landry then hit a turnaround jumper, and Penn State couldn’t find one last counter punch.

Talor Battle hit the second of his next two free throws with 13 seconds left to leave the Nittany Lions down 63-61. Penn State then tried to steal as Wisconsin inbounded the ball, but Hughes sprinted up the floor with the ball and found Landry for a final dunk to ice the game.

Jason Bohannon scored 14 points for the Badgers, while Krabbenhoft scored 10 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Hughes also had 10 points.