Ball State Cardinals @ Wisconsin Badgers
Winter's double-double helps No. 24 Wisconsin trounce Ball State 86-55
MADISON, Wis. -- — Nolan Winter had 19 points and 10 rebounds as No. 24 Wisconsin never trailed in an 86-55 blowout of Ball State on Tuesday night.
Winter played only 20 minutes but was still just one point off his career high. The 7-foot junior scored 20 points in an 83-74 victory over Butler last season.
Nick Boyd and Braeden Carrington had 12 points each for Wisconsin (3-0). Austin Rapp added 11 points and Andrew Rohde had 10.
The Badgers shot 50% from the floor and made 14 3-pointers to withstand their 15 turnovers.
Ball State (2-1) had made over 50% of their field-goal attempts in victories over Louisiana-Lafayette and Division II program Mansfield, but the Cardinals shot just 34% Tuesday and never gave themselves much of a chance.
Elmore James IV scored 17 points, Devon Barnes had 12 and Mason Jones added 11 for Ball State.
Wisconsin took a 30-8 lead in the first 9 ½ minutes without even getting any scoring from John Blackwell, who had averaged 23 points in the Badgers’ first two games.
Blackwell’s first points Tuesday came on a 3-pointer with 5:23 left in the first half. He ended up with eight points.
The Badgers cooled off after that fast start by committing seven turnovers and shooting 4 of 19 over the final 10 ½ minutes of the first half. The Cardinals outscored Wisconsin 18-9 over that stretch to cut the Badgers’ lead to 39-26 by halftime.
Wisconsin pulled away again by making 13 of its first 16 second-half shots. The Badgers eventually led by as many as 35 points.
Ball State: Hosts Little Rock on Saturday.
Wisconsin: Hosts SIU-Edwardsville on Monday.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Kevin Brill
- Mike Littlewood
- Alfred Smith
2025-26 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 0-0 | - | 6-0 |
| Miami (OH) | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| Kent State | 0-0 | - | 6-1 |
| Akron | 0-0 | - | 5-2 |
| Bowling Green | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
| Toledo | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
| Massachusetts | 0-0 | - | 4-3 |
| Eastern Michigan | 0-0 | - | 3-3 |
| Northern Illinois | 0-0 | - | 3-3 |
| Western Michigan | 0-0 | - | 3-4 |
| Ball State | 0-0 | - | 2-3 |
| Central Michigan | 0-0 | - | 2-4 |
| Ohio | 0-0 | - | 1-5 |
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 0-0 | - | 6-0 |
| Nebraska | 0-0 | - | 6-0 |
| Purdue | 0-0 | - | 6-0 |
| Indiana | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| Iowa | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| Michigan | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| Ohio State | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| USC | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
| Illinois | 0-0 | - | 6-1 |
| Maryland | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| Northwestern | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| Penn State | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| UCLA | 0-0 | - | 5-1 |
| Oregon | 0-0 | - | 4-1 |
| Washington | 0-0 | - | 4-1 |
| Wisconsin | 0-0 | - | 4-1 |
| Minnesota | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
| Rutgers | 0-0 | - | 4-3 |

