COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Wisconsin shut down No. 2 Maryland in the decisive first half and held on for a 70-57 victory Saturday night, ending the Terrapins' 27-game home winning streak and knocking them out of a tie atop the Big Ten standings.
Vitto Brown scored a career-high 21 points, Bronson Koenig had 16 and Nigel Hayes added 14 for the Badgers (16-9, 8-4), who have won seven straight.
After using a 28-5 run to go up 35-19, Wisconsin let the lead dwindle to six points with 10:48 remaining before pushing back. A 3-pointer by Koenig and a layup by Brown made it 53-41, and the Terrapins never threatened again.
Rasheed Sulaimon scored 17 for Maryland (22-4, 10-3), which went 20 for 50 from the field and 12 for 22 at the foul line.
The Terrapins' home winning streak, the longest in school history, included a victory over the Badgers last year.
Wisconsin starters Zak Showalter and Ethan Happ both picked up their fourth foul early in the second half at a time when Maryland began cutting into the Badgers' lead.
It was 42-30 before Jake Layman made a three-point play. On the other end, Diamond Stone swatted a shot by Brown into the seats and promptly saluted the crowd.
Seconds later, Maryland reserve guard Jaylen Brantley drove for a layup. After Brown hit a 3-pointer, another layup by Brantley and a dunk by Stone made it 45-39.
But Wisconsin would not be denied. The Badgers lost to Maryland 63-60 last month, falling on a last-second 3 by Melo Trimble.
In this one, Trimble had 10 points on 1-for-14 shooting.
Maryland scored a season-low 21 points in the first half, going 7 for 21 from the floor with nine turnovers to fall behind by 15 at the break. The Terrapins made only one field goal over the final 13 1/2 minutes of the half, a 3-pointer by Sulaimon that halted a 23-2 run.
After Maryland used a 12-0 spurt to take a 14-7 lead, the Badgers reeled off 17 straight points while the Terrapins went 0 for 5 with seven turnovers.
Trimble ended the 8-minute drought with two free throws, but Koenig and Hayes answered with 3-pointers to make it 30-16.
In the final seconds of the half, Wisconsin's Charlie Thomas and Stone were both called for technical fouls during a heated exchange that brought Terps coach Mark Turgeon racing onto the court.
While getting up from the floor under the basket, Stone appeared to intentionally shove Brown's face onto the court.
TIP-INS
Wisconsin: The Badgers improved to 9-4 under coach Greg Gard, who stepped in after Bo Ryan retired in December. ... Wisconsin has won eight of its last 11 games against top 5 teams.
Maryland: Stone, Layman and Trimble each scored 10 points. ... Sulaimon has reached double figures in five of his last six games.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: The Badgers travel to Michigan State on Thursday night, seeking a season sweep.
Maryland: The Terrapins face Minnesota on the road Thursday night.
Follow David Ginsburg on Twitter @ginzy3
