Iowa center Luka Garza reacts after making a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)IOWA CITY, Iowa – Luka Garza scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds as No. It was the 12th double-double of the season for Garza, who leads the Big Ten in scoring and is third in the nation. Micah Potter shot 9 for 12 and scored 23 points for Wisconsin (16-11, 10-10), which has lost five of six. Iowa: Big Ten tournament quarterfinals at Indianapolis on Friday.

After Illinois’ Trent Frazier sank two free throws, Illinois fouled Trevor Anderson with 1.9 seconds left before Wisconsin could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Wisconsin took 17 more shots than Illinois in the first half but still trailed 37-26 at the break because the Illini were much more efficient. AdIllinois cooled off considerably in the second half, but Wisconsin also faltered up until Trice's surge in the final minutes. Illinois led by 14 in the second half before Trice got Wisconsin back into the game. The Illini nearly crumbled down the stretch but stayed in front by going 10 of 10 on foul shots in the final 44 seconds.

The missed wide-open slam aside, Harrar did plenty otherwise to help Penn State snap a decade-long skid against Wisconsin with an 81-71 win over the No. “I think he just has great confidence now, and he should,” Penn State interim coach Jim Ferry said. Penn State built on it with free throws in the waning seconds. The Nittany Lions scored 15 points off 12 Wisconsin turnovers and finished with 17 fastbreak points. UP NEXTWisconsin hosts Penn State on Tuesday.

17 Michigan State — sets the stage for what could be an epic start to the new year in the improbably deep Big Ten. 15 Illinois and Michigan State visits the Cornhuskers. The weekend wraps up Sunday with Wisconsin visiting Penn State, Northwestern heading to Michigan and Ohio State traveling to Minnesota in a pair of matchups involving ranked teams. The Hokies already have wins over teams that were ranked in Villanova and Clemson. BIG 12 BATTLESThe Big Ten has the most teams in the Top 25 but the Big 12 may have the best — the league has five teams ranked in the top 13.

Eric Ayala scored 17 points, while Aaron Wiggins added 15 points and nine rebounds as Maryland beat No. Maryland outscored Wisconsin 38-20 in the paint, limiting the Badgers’ post team of Nate Reuvers and Micah Potter to just 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting. Maryland responded down the stretch to each run the Badgers made trying to take back the lead. Wisconsin: The Badgers dropped 85 points in Michigan State three days earlier. Wisconsin: The Badgers host Minnesota on Thursday.

Trice scored a season-high 29 points, lifting No. Wisconsin scored 14 of the last 21 points over the final 4:03 to turn a closely contested game into a lopsided result. The Spartans turned over the ball 14 times and Wisconsin scored 24 points off those giveaways. SCORING NOTESWisconsin had its highest total against Michigan State since 1994 and scored more than any other game at Michigan State since an 86-82 win in 1976. “They will be a top-five team all season," Izzo said.

Micah Potter scored 20 points and Aleem Ford added 12 to lead the Badgers an 85-48 non-conference victory over short-handed No. Louisville (4-1), playing its first road game, originally had been scheduled to play at Wisconsin on Dec. 9. Trevor Anderson added 11 points and Brad Davison 10 for Wisconsin (6-1), which rolled to a 44-18 halftime lead. “Obviously really pleased with the way we played,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. Wisconsin finished the half 10 of 17 beyond the arc, including three each by Trice and Davison.