James leads No. 9 Texas past Wisconsin

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/24/2008 - Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Damion James scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while A.J. Abrams totaled 21 points as the ninth-ranked Texas Longhorns willed their way to a 74-69 win in hostile territory over a pesky Wisconsin Badgers squad at Kohl Center.

Gary Johnson netted 16 and snagged eight boards for Texas (10-2), which had a six-game win streak snapped in Saturday's 67-63 setback to Michigan State. Their only other loss came by one point to Notre Dame on November 25.

Trevon Hughes led the way with 18 points and Jason Bohannon added 16 for Wisconsin (9-3), which saw its perfect 6-0 mark at home fall with the loss along with a three-game win streak overall. All three of the Badgers' losses have come against ranked foes.

Wisconsin took the early lead in the second half and maintained a three-point edge, 59-56, at the midway point. The game stayed within a possession down the stretch with the lead trading hands all the way until the final minutes.

Bohannon nailed a three to give the Badgers a 68-66 lead but a pair of buckets from Dogus Balbay and James put Texas back in front with just under two minutes left. Marcus Landry evened the score with a layup on the next trip up the floor and Abrams clanked a shot off the rim. James, though, tracked down the rebound for a fresh 24 -- and with 20.1 seconds left -- Johnson banked in a long two from the top of the key for a 72-70 lead.

Hughes came back on the other end and lost the handle while driving to the hoop and James came up with the ball after getting a piece of the shot. Abrams stroked through two from the line with six seconds on the clock and Landry's desperation attempt at a late three was off the mark.

The Longhorns jumped out to an early 11-5 lead but the Badgers kept things tight and took the lead with a 13-2 run through the middle stages of the half. Back-to-back trips to the rim from Hughes put Wisconsin up two and a three- ball by Hughes capped the run for a 28-21 game.

Texas, though, used an 11-0 run to reclaim the lead by four with 3 1/2 minutes left and a layup by James in the waning moments allowed for a two-point edge, 39-37, at the half.

Game Notes

Wisconsin had won four of the five previous meetings with Texas, including a 67-66 verdict versus the Longhorns last season...Landry finished with eight points for the Badgers...Balbay hit just the one field goal but also logged five rebounds, four assists and two steals...Wisconsin's Joe Krabbenhoft chipped in with nine points...Hughes also logged four rebounds and three helpers.

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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.