CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Johnny Davis led Wisconsin (17-4, 8-3) with his fourth double-double this season off 22 points and 15 rebounds, but the Badgers could not get past Illinois Wednesday night.

Kofi Cockburn had 37 points and 12 rebounds to aid the Illini in the battle amongst two of the conference's best teams.

Illinois took a 42-38 lead into halftime after shooting 19 of 34 from the field in the first half. The Illini opened the second half on a 12-4 run, including a 3 from Alfonso Plummer that made it a double-digit lead, 51-40. 

UW brought the game within six points, but Cockburn and Illinois kept the Badgers away from erasing the gap any further.

Tyler Wahl finished with 14 points and six rebounds for Wisconsin.

The Badgers entered Champaign as winners of nine of their last 10 games, but now find themselves just behind in the Big Ten title race with a game at the Kohl Center against Penn State and a trip to No. 13 Michigan State coming up on Tuesday.

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AP contributed to this story.