The Badgers didn’t leave any doubt in the result. Star wing John Tonje, who leads Greg Gard’s group in scoring, kick-started the offensive action with seven quick points. Blackwell, who finished with 24 points, assumed the lead offensive duties afterward. The Michigan native scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half to fuel Wisconsin to a 15-point edge at intermission. The Badgers’ bench unit would then lead the way in the second half. While UW did not receive any individual 30-point performance, the team orchestrated one of its more well-rounded performances of the 2024-25 campaign.

One of the team’s critical playmakers, veteran center Steven Crowl, finished with 12 points, three rebounds and a team-best four assists in 25 minutes of action. On top of that, Crowl made history in the decisive victory: he became the eighth player in program history to secure 100 career wins.

The veteran center has won nearly 70% of the games he’s appeared in during his Wisconsin career, one that began during the 2020-21 season. In 29 games this season, Crowl is responsible for 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per appearance. His production has dwindled slightly this season with Tonje and Nolan Winter’s emergences. Still, his capabilities as a passer and an interior presence make him one of the team’s more valuable pieces,