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MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- By asking officials to enforce the existing rules, the NCAA is placing more of an emphasis on offense this season. But that edict has not changed the way Wisconsin plays the game. Defense continues to be the trademark of the 20th-ranked Badgers, who pulled away for a 65-46 victory over Ohio to improve to 3-0 under interim coach Brad Soderberg. Overall, Wisconsin (5-1) has won five straight since a season-opening loss at Tennessee, matching its longest winning streak of last season, when the Badgers reached the Final Four. "We beat a really good team today," Soderberg said. "That team is going to win a lot of games this season. This game was not easy. I was pleased with the way our team played, especially in the second half." Ray Boone scored 17 points and New Zealand native Kirk Penney added 13 for Wisconsin, which jumped to leads of 11-1 and 15-3 and never trailed. "I think Ray did a real nice job today," Soderberg said. "He played really solid with only a few unforced mistakes. If he can tighten up those little frills in his game, he has a chance to be one of the special perimter players in the Big Ten." The Badgers made life miserable for Ohio (2-2), holding the Bobcats 33 points below their season average of 79.7. Wisconsin has allowed an average of just 48.3 points in its last three games. Anthony Jones led Ohio with just 11 points, while Steve Eskerkamp and Dustin Ford added 10 apiece. The Bobcats shot just 33 percent (14-of-42) from the field and made just 7-of-25 in the second half. "Obviously, the defense was really key out there tonight," Ohio coach Larry Hunter said. "We only shot 33 percent and we just struggled to get anything offensively in either half. Wisconsin does that to you. They are physical." Ohio closed to 27-23 before Freddie Owens and Boone each hit a pair from the line to give Wisconsin a 31-23 halftime lead. Boone came into the game averaging 13.4 points, second on the Wisconsin team behind Penney's 13.6. "He's (Boone) their one guy that when the shot clock is down, will take it and create," Hunter said. "He's their one creator. He goes and creates for himself." The Bobcats scored only eight points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, allowing Wisconsin to open a 44-31 cushion on a layup by Andy Kowske with 9:32 to play. Kowske grabbed 11 rebounds. "They play really fundamentally sound positioning and they are really smart about what they do defensively," Hunter said. "They really do work hard defensively and they don't give up a lot of shots." Jones hit a 3-pointer to pull Ohio within 45-37 but Penney answered with a 3-pointer of his own and Mike Kelley made 1-of-2 from the line, giving Wisconsin a 49-37 edge with 6:19 to go. With Ohio trailing 57-43, Kelley was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with one second left on the shot clock. The senior guard hit all three free throws, staking the Badgers to a 60-43 lead with 1:56 left. Kelley finished with 10 points. "I got after them a little bit at halftime and I was very happy with the way they responded," Soderberg said.
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