Game Recap: Men’s Basketball | | Jake Ross
Badgers score Kohl Center-record 116 points in win over Iowa
UW hits Big Ten-record 21 three pointers in victory
MADISON, Wis – The Wisconsin men’s basketball team put on a historic showing in a 116-85 win against Iowa on Friday. The Badgers scored their most points ever at the Kohl Center and their second-most overall in program history.
The Badgers also hit a Big Ten-record 21 3-pointers in the victory as nine different players cashed in from deep. John Blackwell went 6-for-9 from three on his way to a career-high 32 points. Four other Badgers joined him in double-figures: Nolan Winter (18), Steven Crowl (14), Kamari McGee (12) and John Tonje (12).
No team led by more than five points through most of the first half, before the Badgers sprinted to a 14-0 run just before intermission – with Blackwell and Klesmit combining for 11 of those points. The Badgers led at half 54-43.
Wisconsin didn’t let up on the gas pedal, outscoring the Hawkeyes, 62-42, in the second half. The team went 12-for-18 from deep including a 4-for-4 performance from Kamari McGee after intermission.
UW scored 37 points in the last 10 minutes of play alone.
The Badger defense allowed Iowa to shoot just 13-for-34 in the second half and cleaned up on the glass, out rebounding them 37-21.
Wisconsin earned its first conference win of the season and moved to 11-3 overall.
Notable:
- Wisconsin’s 116 points were its most-ever in a Big Ten game.
- The 116 points were the most by a Big Ten team in a conference matchup since Iowa scored 116 versus Northwestern on 2/8/1995.
- Wisconsin’s 116 points were a Kohl Center record. The previous record was 105 points in 2023 versus Arkansas State on 11/6/2023.
- Wisconsin scored 100+ points in a Big Ten for the first time since a 101-87 win over Northwestern on 2/3/1993.
- Friday marked the second time UW has hit the century mark this season (103 vs. Arizona), the first such season since the 1995-96 season.
- A total of five Badgers scored in double figures, marking the third such occurrence this season (vs. App St., at Butler).
- The Badgers broke their previous 3-point record of 18 makes set on 1/21/20 against Nebraska. Their 21 3-pointers are the most in Big Ten history.
- Wisconsin went 15-for-17 from the free throw line.
- Sophomore John Blackwell scored a career-high 32 points, knocking down a career-best six 3FGs (6-for-10). He also added eight rebounds and five assists.
- Sophomore Nolan Winter tallied 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting. He grabbed 8 boards. Winter has now scored 15+ points in 4 straight games and is averaging 17.8 ppg and 8.5 rebounds over that stretch.
- Senior Kamari McGee scored 12 points, his second-highest total as a Badger, knocking down a career-high four 3FGs (4-for-5). McGee also grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
Quotable:
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard (on John Blackwell): “He’s becoming more and more comfortable with the ball in his hands. In the last three games he’s got 15 assists, two turnovers, so he’s seeing things faster, quicker, earlier. He’s getting more comfortable in that role.”
Sophomore Nolan Winter (on defensive adjustments in the second half): “There’s not a dude on the team that we don’t trust shooting the ball. Everyone can shoot it, this is a good game for us to see the ball go through the net more and more going forward. We’re going to keep letting them go and still try to establish ourselves inside in order to get the inside out presence.”
Sophomore John Blackwell (on his performance): “I got a hot hand early. They found me and we played the right basketball. We were hitting shots, and when you feel it you just keep shooting.”
Up Next:
Wisconsin faces Rutgers on the road next Monday, with tip set for 6 p.m. (CT). The game airs on FS1.
