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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Maui hoops: Bohannon helps Wisconsin top No. 21 Maryland 78-69


Associated Press

LAHAINA — Jason Bohannon and Wisconsin went outside the arc to take down Maryland.

Bohannon scored 20 points and Jon Leuer added 16, leading the Badgers to a 78-69 victory over No. 21 Maryland in the third-place game of the Maui Invitational on Wednesday at the Lahaina Civic Center.
Trevon Hughes had 14 points for the Badgers (4-1), who made 10 of 22 3-pointers, including four by Bohannon.
“The difference was we hit more 3s and they didn’t,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said.
Greivis Vasquez led Maryland (4-2) with 18 points. He was 6 for 13 from the floor and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
“What hurt us today is that they shot 10 for 22 on their 3s, combined with us shooting 10 for 17 on free throws,” Terrapins coach Gary Williams said. “That combination in a game like that isn’t good.”
Ryan said that while both teams are well-conditioned, it showed for his players in their long-range shooting.
“I attribute that to our hill running. Like our book says, this was another hill to climb,” Ryan said. “Conditioning is big. I thought that showed here. Maryland does the same things and they are in good condition, too. But we hit our 3s today on the third game in three days. The only way to do that is to have your legs and our guys had their legs today.”
Williams thinks Wisconsin will be a Big Ten contender this season.
“Nobody ever seems to notice them, but Wisconsin will be a factor,” he said. “They seem to show up in the (NCAA) tournament every year and I’m sure they will again this season.”
Maryland scored the first seven points before Wisconsin answered with a 16-2 run to take a 16-9 lead with 11:59 left in the first half. Wisconsin stretched the lead to 37-27 at halftime.
Maryland pulled to 51-48 with just more than 10 minutes remaining, but got no closer. Led by Leuer’s seven points, Wisconsin went on a 14-5 run to open a 65-53 lead with 5:51 to play. The Badgers led by at least seven the rest of the way.
Bohannon finished 4 for 5 from long range. Hughes went 5 for 17 from the floor, including 3 for 8 on 3s.
Maryland was 5 for 13 on 3-pointers.
The Terrapins, the top-ranked team in the field coming in, beat only Division II tournament host Chaminade. Wisconsin left Maui with wins over Maryland and Arizona.
“Maybe the learning curve here, with the experience that they have gained, will help them,” Ryan said. “I am hoping that is a big part of it.”