MADISON, Wis. — In an exciting opener for the Bobcats, Max Klesmit led Wisconsin to a solid 79-67 victory over Montana State on Thursday night, scoring a total of 26 points with six successful 3-pointers.

Klesmit showcased his shooting prowess, hitting 6 of 11 attempts from beyond the arc while converting 1 of 4 from closer range. The Badgers excelled at the free-throw line, making 20 of 21 attempts, with Klesmit perfecting his six shots.

Graduate transfer John Tonje contributed significantly to the team, netting 13 points, with 11 scored in the first half. Additionally, John Blackwell added 13 points along with six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kamari McGee provided a boost off the bench, tallying 11 points while shooting an impressive 5-for-7, including a 3-pointer.

For the Bobcats, reserve player Brian Goracke was the leading scorer with 14 points, while Max Agnonkpolo contributed 13 points. Jabe Mullins added 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and Patrick McMahon scored 11 points, shooting 5-for-7, which included a 3-point shot.

The game saw its share of excitement, particularly when Mullins’ jumper off a turnover briefly gave Montana State a 25-24 lead late in the first half. However, Tonje quickly retaliated by scoring eight consecutive points at the free-throw line, followed by a crucial 3-pointer from Klesmit, allowing the Badgers to extend their lead to 35-28 with 1:41 remaining in a first half that featured 10 changes in the lead.

The second half began with Tyler Patterson drilling a 3-pointer for the Bobcats, but Wisconsin responded strongly. Nolan Winter’s dunk and two rapid 3-pointers from Klesmit propelled the Badgers to a commanding 47-36 lead with 18:18 left in the game. Although Montana State managed to close the gap to nine points on three occasions, they were unable to narrow the deficit further during their first matchup against Wisconsin.

Wisconsin previously overcame a 16-point deficit in their season opener against Holy Cross, winning 85-61 with Tonje scoring an impressive 23 points, marking the highest debut point total for a Badger since 2000. Before transferring, Tonje had played four years at Colorado State and made appearances in eight games at Missouri last season.

In their previous game against Holy Cross, Wisconsin achieved a remarkable feat by going 16 for 16 at the free-throw line, marking the seventh time in the program’s history that they achieved a perfect score on at least 12 attempts.

The Badgers’ next challenge comes as they prepare to host Appalachian State on Sunday.