In Madison, Wisconsin, the 11th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers made a significant comeback from their recent setback with a decisive 88-62 win over the Washington team on Tuesday night. John Blackwell was instrumental in Wisconsin’s success, putting up 24 points and 10 rebounds. This victory comes as a relief after the Badgers stumbled against Oregon, losing 77-73 in overtime during their previous game despite having a 15-point lead with less than eight minutes on the clock.
In addition to Blackwell’s stellar performance, John Tonje contributed significantly with 13 points for Wisconsin, now holding a 22-6 record overall and a 12-5 record in the Big Ten Conference. Both Steven Crowl and Xavier Amos also made substantial contributions to the scoreboard, adding 12 points each. On the other side, Washington, with a record of 13-15 overall and 4-13 in conference play, continued their struggles, marking their third consecutive loss. Great Osobor was the leading scorer for Washington, managing 11 points.
The Badgers gained momentum early in the game, establishing a 25-15 advantage midway through the first half. By halftime, their lead widened to 43-28, thanks to an impressive shooting performance where they made 10 of their final 13 attempts. Wisconsin maintained their dominance into the second half, shooting 10 of 16 to widen the gap to 64-42, highlighted by a layup from Amos. Blackwell further extended the lead to 78-48 after sinking two free throws with under seven minutes left on the clock.
During the first half, Blackwell was particularly effective, scoring 19 points and making 8 of 11 shots, including 3 out of 4 from the three-point range. This performance helped set the tone for the Badgers’ win, offering them a significant morale boost after their previous loss.
