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MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin proved it can win even when it doesn't get much offense from national player of the year candidate Johnny Davis or fifth-year senior Brad Davison.
But it sure wasn't easy.
Tyler Wahl made a tiebreaking layup with 30.5 seconds left as the 11th-ranked Badgers beat Penn State 51-49 on Saturday for their 21st straight home victory in the series.
"It was just a gritty game," said Wahl, who scored 12 points. "Our shots weren't falling. I thought we were getting decent looks throughout the game. But it was our defense that really stuck us in there."
Wisconsin (18-4, 9-3 Big Ten) needed other players to step up because Davis and Davison weren't nearly as effective as usual.
Davis had a season-low four points, shot 2 of 13 and didn't score until 10:16 remained. Three days after going 11 of 14 from the foul line in an 80-67 loss at No. 18 Illinois, Davis didn't attempt a single free throw.
"Every time we play a really good player, our goal is more field-goal attempts than points," Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said. "Johnny's an attacker, so he can score off the dribble, he scores in the post, he can go to the glass. Our goal was to not foul him, don't send him to the free-throw line."
Davison shot 3 of 10, scored nine points and didn't make his first basket until there was 9:23 left. Both Davis and Davison -- who were averaging a combined 36.6 points -- went scoreless for the first 26Ç minutes.
PENN ST. (9-10): Harrar 0-2 2-2 2, Lundy 2-9 0-0 6, Dread 2-8 0-0 4, Johnson 2-4 0-0 6, Pickett 2-13 0-0 4, Lee 3-6 0-0 8, Sessoms 5-9 2-2 14, Cornwall 2-5 0-1 5, White 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-57 4-5 49.
WISCONSIN (18-4): Crowl 5-8 0-0 13, Wahl 6-9 0-0 12, Joh.Davis 2-13 0-0 4, Davison 3-10 2-2 9, Hepburn 4-7 0-0 10, Vogt 1-3 0-0 2, Bowman 0-4 1-4 1, Neath 0-0 0-0 0, Carlson 0-1 0-0 0, Jor.Davis 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-56 3-6 51.
Halftime--Wisconsin 18-13. 3-Point Goals--Penn St. 9-30 (Johnson 2-3, Sessoms 2-3, Lee 2-4, Lundy 2-7, Cornwall 1-3, Pickett 0-4, Dread 0-6), Wisconsin 6-21 (Crowl 3-5, Hepburn 2-4, Davison 1-6, Carlson 0-1, Wahl 0-1, Bowman 0-2, Joh.Davis 0-2). Rebounds--Penn St. 33 (Harrar, Lee 9), Wisconsin 36 (Joh.Davis 9). Assists--Penn St. 7 (Pickett 3), Wisconsin 10 (Crowl 5). Total Fouls--Penn St. 14, Wisconsin 13. A--17,287 (17,230).