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
Madison, WI

Referee:Kevin Brill
Referee:Mike Littlewood
Referee:Alfred Smith

2025-26 Standings
| Mid-American ConferenceMid-American Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 16-0 | - | 29-0 |
| Akron | 15-1 | 1 | 24-5 |
| Kent State | 12-4 | 4 | 21-8 |
| Toledo | 10-6 | 6 | 16-13 |
| Ohio | 9-7 | 7 | 15-14 |
| Bowling Green | 8-9 | 8.5 | 17-13 |
| Buffalo | 6-10 | 10 | 16-13 |
| Central Michigan | 6-10 | 10 | 10-19 |
| Massachusetts | 6-11 | 10.5 | 15-15 |
| Ball State | 5-11 | 11 | 10-19 |
| Western Michigan | 4-12 | 12 | 10-19 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-12 | 12 | 10-19 |
| Northern Illinois | 4-12 | 12 | 9-19 |
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 17-1 | - | 27-2 |
| Nebraska | 14-4 | 3 | 25-4 |
| Michigan State | 14-4 | 3 | 24-5 |
| Illinois | 13-5 | 4 | 22-7 |
| Purdue | 12-6 | 5 | 22-7 |
| Wisconsin | 12-6 | 5 | 20-9 |
| UCLA | 11-7 | 6 | 19-10 |
| Iowa | 10-8 | 7 | 20-9 |
| Ohio State | 10-8 | 7 | 18-11 |
| Indiana | 8-10 | 9 | 17-12 |
| USC | 7-11 | 10 | 18-11 |
| Minnesota | 7-11 | 10 | 14-15 |
| Washington | 6-12 | 11 | 14-15 |
| Northwestern | 5-13 | 12 | 13-16 |
| Rutgers | 5-13 | 12 | 12-17 |
| Oregon | 4-14 | 13 | 11-18 |
| Maryland | 4-14 | 13 | 11-18 |
| Penn State | 3-15 | 14 | 12-17 |
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