116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Wisconsin uses 3-point barrage in 116-85 men’s basketball demolition of Hawkeyes
Badgers make a program-record 21 three-pointers, shoot 64.5 percent overall in Iowa’s worst loss of the season. Wisconsin sophomore guard John Blackwell made six 3-pointers, scored 32 points.
Jan. 3, 2025 8:21 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
(This story was filed in Cedar Rapids.)
MADISON, Wis. — Sophomore guard John Blackwell scored a career-high 32 points and led a 3-point onslaught for Wisconsin in its 116-85 men’s basketball rout of Iowa Friday night.
The Badgers’ scored a record point-total the Kohl Center, which opened in 1998 and it was Wisconsin’s most points against Iowa in their 176-game series.
Blackwell entered the game shooting just 28.9 percent from deep, but sank 6 of 10 as his team made a program-record 21 in 31 tries. The Badgers hadn’t topped 12 threes in their first 13 games.
Wisconsin has won its last four games against the Hawkeyes in Madison. It was the most points the Badgers have scored in this series since 1974.
Iowa dropped to 1-2 in the Big Ten and 10-4 overall. Wisconsin won for the first time in three league starts and is 11-3 overall. It was the first time this season the Hawkeyes have lost a game by more than nine points.
The Badgers shot 64.5 percent overall. Iowa shot 48.5 percent after making 59.4 percent in the first half. Wisconsin had 37 rebounds to Iowa’s 21.
“Our shot-selection wasn’t very good, nor was our defense, obviously,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said on the Hawkeye Radio Network’s postgame show.
“We didn’t execue our gameplan very well. ... Our execution wasn’t there.”
The Hawkeyes led 30-27 with 6:43 left in the first half, then the game changed for good. Going against four Iowa reserves and one starter, Wisconsin scored the first 11 points in a 14-0 run. It featured four 3-pointers, with the shooters routinely getting open.
Wisconsin’s nine 3-pointers and 18-9 rebounding advantage staked it to a 54-43 halftime lead.
Before the Badgers’ big run, the game featured four lead-changes and five ties. Iowa led by as much as six points before Wisconsin went on a 14-of-16 shooting rampage.
Iowa senior guard Drew Thelwell scored 25 points, his most as a Hawkeye. Josh Dix had 16 points, Owen Freeman 14. Senior forward Payton Sandfort, who had been averaging 16,5 points, was held to two points, going 0-of-5 from deep.
Iowa’s next game is at home Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Peacock against Nebraska (1-1, 11-2).
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters