Big Ten Basketball: Matt Painter climbs wins ladder, Rutgers sets records

Wisconsin nips Maryland

No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers got a career-high 21 points from Tyler Wahl and 19 points from Johnny Davis as they held off a fierce comeback attempt from Maryland. The Badgers (13-2, 4-1), who have won five straight games, nearly blew a 21-point lead. There were five lead changes and six ties in the game.

Eric Ayala led five Terrapins (8-7, 0-4) in double-figures with 19 points, all coming in the second half. It was Ayala’s 13th double-figure scoring effort on the season and the 64th of his career. Fatts Russell, Hakim Hart, Donta Scott, and Xavier Green each scored in double-figures. Maryland has lost three straight and falls to 3-4 under interim head coach Danny Manning.

Other Big Ten Notes

• Michigan (7-6, 1-2) has had its last two games postponed because the Wolverines have fewer than seven scholarship players available due to Covid. The two games were Saturday against Michigan State and Monday versus Purdue. The Wolverines next opportunity to play is Friday at Illinois
• The Big Ten had four teams ranked in the AP Top 25 in Week nine — Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
• Michigan State and Illinois are both undefeated in league play at 4-0.
• The Big Ten ranks second in the NET conference rankings with a 107-16 nonconference record. The conference tied the Big 12, Big East, and SEC for the most non-conference wins against AP ranked opponents with seven.
• The Big Ten Conference has 24 Quad I victories.

• The conference has three players among the top-5 scorers in the NCAA, led by the nation’s leader Iowa’s Keegan Murray at 24.7 points. Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis and Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn are tied for fourth at 22.5.