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  Saturday, Dec. 23 2:00pm ET
Linton, Davis debut in Badgers' win
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Wisconsin coach Brad Soderberg called it another backyard brawl.

Wisconsin (No. 15 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) beat Marquette 52-47 on Saturday to improve to 3-0 against in-state rivals this season. The Badgers also beat Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Mike Kelley
Mike Kelley, foreground, keeps Marquette's Brian Wardle at arm's length for this loose ball in the second half.

"No one knows except the guys in our locker room how hard it's been to go to Green Bay and win, to beat Milwaukee at home and then to come and win here," Soderberg said.

"That is hard. I told the guys afterwards, I'm proud they're state champions. It doesn't happen automatically. It's not just a given that Wisconsin is going to be the top team in the state each year."

Roy Boone scored a season-high 18 points as the Badgers (8-1) won their eighth straight game for the first time since 1998 and third in a row against Marquette (5-4).

Boone has scored in double figures in all nine games and leads the Badgers with a 14.7 average.

The game was the first of the season for Wisconsin senior forward Maurice Linton and junior point guard Travon Davis. They were suspended for eight games by the NCAA for receiving extra benefits in purchases of discount shoes.

Linton, who started most of last season, had seven points and a rebound in 14 minutes. Davis had four points and a rebound in 13 minutes.

The Badgers, who made just four field goals in the second half, shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line in the last 2:53.

Marquette got 11 points from Oluoma Nnamaka and 10 from Brian Wardle, but the Golden Eagles failed to hit a 3-pointer for the first time since Feb. 2, 1989, a span of 355 games.

After a free throw by Mark Vershaw gave Wisconsin a 50-45 lead with 16.3 seconds left, Marquette's Cordell Henry hit a basket with 11 seconds remaining.

Marquette immediately fouled Mike Kelley, who made both free throws for the final five-point margin.

Brian Barone missed Marquette's ninth 3-pointer of the game and Wisconsin ran out the clock.

Marquette's only lead of the game was at 2-0. But Wisconsin used an 11-2 run to take a 20-8 lead, its biggest of the game, on a basket by Charlie Wills with 7:06 left in the first half.
 


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AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Andy Kowske barrels into the lane and puts up the sky hook jumper against Marquette.
avi: 746 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Marquette's Brian Wardle hits the two-point jumper against Wisconsin.
avi: 675 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Mark Vershaw dishes baseline to Maurice Linton for the smooth layup.
avi: 659 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Jon Harris scores for Marquette off the offensive rebound.
avi: 649 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1