MADISON, Wis. — John Tonje delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 41 points — just two shy of the Wisconsin record — helping the Badgers secure a commanding 103-88 victory over the No. 9 ranked Arizona on Friday night.
From the beginning, Wisconsin (4-0) maintained the lead and never looked back, with enthusiastic fans flooding the Kohl Center court at the conclusion of the game.
Tonje showcased remarkable shooting prowess, finishing 8 for 14 from the field, including 4 of 6 from behind the arc. His exceptional night at the free-throw line saw him convert 21 of 22 attempts, breaking a school record for free throws made in a single game.
The current scoring record for Wisconsin remains at 43 points, held by Frank Kaminsky, who attended the matchup. The game also served as a nod to the Badgers’ 2014 and 2015 Final Four squads. Kaminsky’s record was set during a game against North Dakota on November 19, 2013.
In addition to Tonje’s standout performance, Wisconsin received contributions from players including John Blackwell and Max Klesmit, who scored 14 and 13 points respectively. For Arizona (2-1), Jaden Bradley led with 22 points, while Trey Townsend and KJ Lewis chipped in with 17 and 15 points.
During halftime, Wisconsin honored former coach Bo Ryan by raising a banner in his name to the rafters. Ryan was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, highlighting his impactful legacy.
Key takeaways from the game highlighted Arizona’s struggles, particularly for their All-American guard Caleb Love, who had an off night shooting, going 2 of 13 and finishing with just six points before fouling out late in the game.
Wisconsin displayed resilience after allowing an 18-point lead to slip. They quickly regained their composure, seeking redemption from a previous 98-73 defeat against Arizona last season.
A pivotal moment occurred when Arizona tied the game at 65 with an 8-0 run capped by a layup from KJ Lewis with 14:13 left in the second half. However, Blackwell quickly reclaimed the lead for Wisconsin just seconds later, and Arizona struggled to find the basket, missing their next six attempts following the equalizer.
The match was notably intense, marked by a total of 63 fouls, with 32 being called against Arizona, and resulted in an abundance of free-throw opportunities — 87 in total. Wisconsin capitalized on this, converting 41 of 47, while Arizona managed 28 of 40 from the line.
Looking ahead, Arizona will face No. 6 Duke at home next Friday, while Wisconsin prepares to host Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday.