MADISON, Wis. — In a decisive match on Saturday, John Tonje led No. 15 Wisconsin to a convincing 74-53 victory over Chicago State by scoring 22 points while Nolan Winter contributed 12 points.

Wisconsin, now boasting an 8-0 record, established dominance early in the second half with a 17-3 run that brought the score to 49-30 thanks to a dunk by Winter with 11:21 left on the clock. During this critical period, the Cougars found themselves struggling immensely, managing to make only 1 of 13 shots attempted.

Jalen Forrest stood out as the sole Chicago State player to reach double-digit scoring, finishing the game with 10 points. The Cougars faced significant challenges, particularly from long range, missing their first 10 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. They managed to close the gap to 30-25 with a three-pointer from Greg Spate just 1:37 before halftime, but a layup from Tonje allowed the Badgers to secure a 32-25 lead going into intermission.

**Highlights**

The offensive struggles of Chicago State have continued, as the team entered this game averaging just 59.1 points per contest. Their average point differential of minus-25.3 puts them at 352nd out of 355 Division I teams, showcasing their difficulty in scoring.

On the other hand, Wisconsin seems to have overcome their tendency to start slow, which had plagued several games earlier in the season. Notably, the Badgers previously found themselves trailing Holy Cross by 16 points, Appalachian State by nine, and had to rally from a 14-point deficit in their last game against Pittsburgh, eventually winning 81-75.

**Turning Point**

While Chicago State managed to score first in the second half, narrowing the deficit to 32-27, Wisconsin quickly responded with an 8-0 run. This surge was capped by a three-pointer from Tonje, pushing the score to 40-27 and re-establishing a comfortable lead for the Badgers.

**Crucial Statistics**

Wisconsin, coming into the matchup ranked No. 1 nationally in free-throw percentage at an impressive 86.5% (147-of-170), continued their solid performance from the line, sinking 18 of their 21 attempts during the game.

**Looking Ahead**

Next up, Wisconsin is set to host Michigan on Tuesday for both teams’ Big Ten opener, while Chicago State will travel to St. Thomas (Minn.) on Monday for their upcoming game.