Northern Illinois Huskies at Wisconsin Badgers
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Nick Boyd scores career-high 25 points as No. 24 Wisconsin beats Northern Illinois 97-72
Boyd surpassed his previous best of 24 points, set last season with San Diego State. Boyd, who also played on Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four team, shot 8 for 16 from the field, including 3 for 8 from long distance.
Returning starters John Blackwell added 15 points and Nolan Winter 12 for Wisconsin (2-0), which built an early 20-5 lead.
JJ Taylor had 17 points and Jao Ituka 13 for Northern Illinois (1-1).
Wisconsin had a 36-25 rebounding edge, including 15-4 on the offensive boards and built a 21-2 advantage in second-chance points. The Badgers shot 49.2%, including 9 of 31 from distance, but 3 of 17 in the second half.
Wisconsin led 52-33 at the half despite going more than eight minutes without a field goal. Blackwell hit a jumper from the line in the closing seconds to end the scoring drought.
Boyd’s 3-pointer put the Badgers up 39-17 with 8:24 left in the half before Wisconsin missed its next six shots. The Badgers scored their next 11 points from the free-throw line.
Wisconsin hit eight of its first 10 shots, moving out to a 20-5 lead on a layin by freshman Aleksas Bieliauskas. That early advantage allowed Wisconsin to use 11 players in the half.
Wisconsin, which led the nation in free throw shooting last season at 82.6%, shot 28 for 37 for 75.7%.
Wisconsin: Hosts Ball State on Tuesday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 72 - 97 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 72 - 97 |
| 2nd 0:02 | Max Laskey made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Gianni Cobb. | 72 - 97 |
| 2nd 0:24 | Isaac Gard made Free Throw. | 69 - 97 |
| 2nd 0:24 | Isaac Gard made Free Throw. | 69 - 96 |
Statistics
 NIU |
 WIS |
|
|---|---|---|
| 22-47 | FG | 30-61 |
| 47 | Field Goal % | 49 |
| 7-21 | 3PT | 9-31 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 29 |
| 21-31 | FT | 28-37 |
| 68 | Free Throw % | 76 |
| 25 | Rebounds | 36 |
| 4 | Offensive Rebounds | 15 |
| 21 | Defensive Rebounds | 21 |
| 10 | Assists | 14 |
| 3 | Steals | 7 |
| 0 | Blocks | 4 |
| 17 | Turnovers | 9 |
| 3 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 17 | Total Turnovers | 9 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 9 | Points Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 9 | Fast Break Points | 12 |
| 26 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 29 | Fouls | 23 |
| 0 | Largest Lead | 28 |
Game Information
Location: Madison, WI
Attendance: 15,222 | Capacity:
2025-26 Mid-American Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 11-0 | - | 23-0 |
| Akron | 10-1 | 1 | 19-4 |
| Kent State | 8-3 | 3 | 17-6 |
| Ohio | 7-5 | 4.5 | 13-11 |
| Toledo | 6-5 | 5 | 12-11 |
| Massachusetts | 6-6 | 5.5 | 15-9 |
| Bowling Green | 5-6 | 6 | 14-9 |
| Buffalo | 4-7 | 7 | 14-9 |
| Northern Illinois | 3-7 | 7.5 | 7-14 |
| Ball State | 3-7 | 7.5 | 7-15 |
| Eastern Michigan | 3-8 | 8 | 9-14 |
| Central Michigan | 3-8 | 8 | 7-16 |
| Western Michigan | 2-8 | 8.5 | 8-14 |
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 10-1 | - | 20-1 |
| Illinois | 10-1 | - | 19-3 |
| Nebraska | 9-2 | 1 | 20-2 |
| Michigan State | 9-2 | 1 | 19-3 |
| Purdue | 8-3 | 2 | 18-4 |
| Wisconsin | 8-3 | 2 | 16-6 |
| UCLA | 8-4 | 2.5 | 16-7 |
| Iowa | 6-4 | 3.5 | 16-5 |
| Ohio State | 6-5 | 4 | 14-7 |
| USC | 6-6 | 4.5 | 17-6 |
| Indiana | 6-6 | 4.5 | 15-8 |
| Washington | 4-7 | 6 | 12-10 |
| Minnesota | 3-8 | 7 | 10-12 |
| Northwestern | 2-9 | 8 | 10-12 |
| Rutgers | 2-10 | 8.5 | 9-14 |
| Maryland | 1-9 | 8.5 | 8-13 |
| Penn State | 1-10 | 9 | 10-12 |
| Oregon | 1-10 | 9 | 8-14 |