Davis, Davison struggle from field, while Cockburn drops 37, as Illini upset Badgers

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A huge game from the big center for 18th-ranked Illinois and some horrid shooting from the No. 11 University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team.

Kofi Cockburn scored 37 points on 16-of-19 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Illini knocked off the Badgers 80-67.

La Crosse native Johnny Davis and teammate Brad Davis combined to shoot 8-for-31 from the field for the Badgers (17-4, 8-3), who were down 42-38 at halftime and watched Illinois (16-5, 9-2) open the second half with a 12-4 run.

The Badgers shot 3-for-24 from beyond the arc and had just eight assists on 26-for-68 field goals. Illinois shot 51.6% (32-for-62) from the field and had 21 assists.

Davis finished with 22 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds — the second consecutive game he’s grabbed that many. He made up for the 5-of-19 performance from the field — including just 1 of 5 from deep — by going 11-for-14 from the line.

Cockburn this season is averaging 22.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, a block and 2.3 turnovers per game. The junior is shooting 61.1% from the field. Meanwhile, Davis is averaging 21.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals and 2.2 turnovers a game. The sophomore is shooting just 43.1% from the field and 35.0% from deep.

A few weeks ago Cockburn and Davis were co-players of the week in the Big Ten Conference. Davis was coming off that 37-point performance in knocking off No. 3 Purdue. Now, it’s Cockburn with the 37 and the upset win.

Wisconsin now hosts Penn State (9-9, 4-6) on Saturday hoping to avoid the trap game, with No. 13 Michigan State (17-4, 8-2) on the schedule for Tuesday.

Davis avoided not scoring 20 or more points in three consecutive games this season. Last season, he only scored in the teens one time.