Taylor’s late fireworks lift No. 18 Wisconsin to 79-71 overtime victory over Penn State

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No. 18 Wisconsin needs OT to beat Penn State 79-71

MADISON, Wis. — Jordan Taylor scored the last eight points of regulation to tie the game, then went on to score 10 more in overtime and lead No. 18 Wisconsin to a 79-71 victory over Penn State on Sunday.

With the loss, the Nittany Lions remain winless in Big Ten play.

Trevon Hughes scored 22 points and Taylor finished with 20 for the Badgers (16-4, 6-2 Big Ten), who trailed for most of the game as their recent string of ugly outside shooting performances continued.

Talor Battle scored 28 and Chris Babb added 16 for the Nittany Lions (8-11, 0-7), who were ahead 60-52 with 2 minutes left in regulation before Taylor’s scoring outburst.

With the victory, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan tied former Indiana coach Branch McCracken as the second-fastest coach in Big Ten history to reach 100 conference victories. Ryan and McCracken reached the 100-win mark in conference play in 140 games — trailing only Bob Knight, who did it in 131.

Wisconsin has won 12 straight over Penn State. Sunday’s victory also preserved Wisconsin’s home winning streak over unranked conference opponents under Ryan, which stands at 51-0 — but just barely.

The Nittany Lions led 52-36 in the second half when Wisconsin’s wayward outside shots suddenly began falling.

Wisconsin went on a 15-0 run — including a pair of 3s by Hughes, another 3 by Rob Wilson and two long jumpers by Keaton Nankivil — to cut Penn State’s lead to one with 6:51 left in the game. Jason Bohannon came up with three steals during the run as the Nittany Lions went scoreless for nearly five minutes.

But Battle took control of the game from there, scoring six straight points as Penn State went ahead 58-51 with 3:38 left.

With Penn State later leading 60-52, Taylor hit a 3-pointer with 1:47 left to cut the lead to five. Penn State’s Andrew Ott was called for traveling and Taylor hit another 3-pointer, cutting the lead to two with 1:06 remaining.

Bill Edwards missed, and Ott was called for traveling as he hit the floor.

Taylor hit a driving layup on the other end to tie it, then provided defense on Battle, who missed a late 3-point try that could have won the game.

Hughes opened overtime with a pair of free throws to give the Badgers the lead, and Taylor took over again.

He hit a 3-pointer, then came up with a steal and a fast-break layup to give Wisconsin a seven-point lead in overtime.

Battle made a pair of free throws for Penn State, but Taylor struck again, hitting a jumper in the lane to put the Badgers up 69-62 with 2:35 left in overtime. Babb hit a jumper on the other end, but Hughes hit a long jumper and a free throw to convert a three-point play and give Wisconsin a commanding 72-64 lead with 12:02 remaining.

Bohannon scored 13, surpassing 1,000 points for his career.

But the Badgers continued to struggle from 3-point range, going 10 for 33.