TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jon Leuer scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half and Wisconsin methodically dispatched Belmont 72-58 on Thursday night, the Badgers’ fifth consecutive NCAA tournament-opening victory.
Jordan Taylor added 21 for the fourth-seeded Badgers (24-8), 14 in the first half.
There was much talk of Belmont, a No. 13 seed, being a surprise tournament team, but the Bruins never hit their stride against the Badgers, who made 12 of 22 3-pointers, led by Taylor’s 5 of 9.
It was an impressive rebirth of the Wisconsin offense after a 36-33 loss to Penn State in the lowest-scoring game in Big Ten Tournament history. Wisconsin was 2 of 21 on 3-pointers in that one.
Mike Hedgepeth scored 17 and Kerron Johnson 13 for the Atlantic Sun champion Bruins (30-5), still searching for their first NCAA tournament berth after four tries.
