Northwestern wiped out by Wisconsin in second half

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Northwestern’s Dave Sobolewski, who had six assists, shoots in front of Wisconsin’s Jordan Taylor in the first half Wednesday. | Andy Manis~AP

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:34AM

MADISON, Wis. — Northwestern limped into the Kohl Center on Wednesday but left bleeding and wrapped in a tourniquet after Wisconsin beat up the Wildcats 77-57, just four days after the same Wildcats upset Michigan State.

NU was without guard Alex Marcotullio, who didn’t make the trip because of lingering effects of a concussion. Guard JerShon Cobb wasn’t available because of tendonitis in his left hip. He made the trip but wasn’t in uniform.

The Wildcats (12-6, 2-4 Big Ten) were down to seven scholarship players and two walk-ons. One of those walk-ons, James Montgomery III, came in with 49.5 seconds left in the first half, replacing swingman Drew Crawford.

Crawford left the game after suffering an apparent right-hand injury after scoring 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting. He started the second half without having the hand taped and finished with 17 points. A team official said Crawford had his fingers bent backward and was fine.

But coach Bill Carmody got a reality check of sorts with his depleted bench.

“I always play seven guys and people bitch to me that I should play more, but we’re going to have to,” Carmody said. “We play Sunday [at Minnesota] and then we’re off for a week, and maybe by then Marcotullio and Cobb will be back.”

Wisconsin (15-5, 4-3) has beat up the Wildcats in Madison for more than a decade. The Badgers’ 14-game winning streak against NU dates to 1997.

They continued the beatdown in the second half. After leading by two at halftime, Wisconsin went on a 17-2 run, highlighted by three three-pointers from point guard Jordan Taylor (15 points, 4-for-6 on three-pointers). When it was over, the Badgers had built a 55-38 lead, and the Wildcats never threatened.

“We’d love to have everyone healthy, but injuries are part of the game,” said John Shurna, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, who led the Wildcats with 19 points. “You never quit. They’re a really talented team, and when they get hot like that [in the second half], they play with a lot of confidence.”

But Shurna had more second-half issues. He scored 12 points in the first half, but his shot sputtered in the second. Inconsistency has plagued him in Big Ten play.

“I was clowning in the locker room that, since I’m old, it takes me awhile to get going,” said Wisconsin’s Ryan Evans (17 points, nine rebounds), who guarded Shurna at times. “But I have nothing but respect for him and Crawford.”