Wisconsin Badgers Triumph Over Michigan State
In a stunning display of basketball prowess, the Wisconsin Badgers comfortably defeated No. 10 Michigan State 92-71 on Friday night in Madison. This victory marks the second time within a span of four days that Wisconsin has triumphed over a top-10 opponent, following their earlier successes against elite teams this season. With this performance, Wisconsin becomes the first team this year to notch three wins against top-10 ranked squads, previously besting No. 2 Michigan 91-88 on January 10 and edging No. 8 Illinois 92-90 in an overtime thriller just days ago.
Game Highlights
The Badgers wasted no time establishing dominance in this matchup, hitting their first five 3-point attempts within the first five and a half minutes. This early momentum set the tone for a game that ultimately saw Wisconsin never trail, even building a staggering lead of 24 points at its peak. They concluded the night shooting an impressive 15 for 35 from beyond the arc, including a remarkable 10 of 17 in the opening half.
Key Performers
Nick Boyd was instrumental in the victory, scoring 29 points, with 20 of those coming in the first half alone. Teammate John Blackwell also contributed significantly, amassing 24 points, with 19 scored in the second half. Nolan Winter rounded out the standout performances with a double-double, netting 10 points and securing 11 rebounds.
On the other side, Coen Carr led Michigan State with 19 points, while Jeremy Fears Jr. had a notable night with 14 points and 12 assists, despite struggling with his shooting, which featured only three successful field goals on 12 attempts.
Game Dynamics
The Spartans faced an early setback when center Carson Cooper suffered an awkward fall while attempting a drive and briefly left the game. During his absence, Wisconsin capitalized, executing an 8-0 run as part of a larger 15-0 scoring spurt that propelled them to a commanding 32-14 lead by the time Cooper returned to the court. Although Michigan State attempted to narrow the gap, trimming the deficit to single digits on a couple of occasions, they were unable to maintain that momentum, and Wisconsin went into halftime with a solid 51-34 advantage — a lead that would not diminish below 15 points in the second half.
Looking Ahead
Next on the agenda, Michigan State will prepare to host UCLA on Tuesday evening, while Wisconsin is set to take on Ohio State in their upcoming match.
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