The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) extended their strong start to the season with a dominant 87-56 win over Appalachian State on Sunday, Nov. 10. It was an all-around team performance as Wisconsin’s defense and balanced scoring proved too much for the Mountaineers.
Key Performers
Senior John Tonje led the Badgers with an outstanding all-around performance, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Senior Steven Crowl also contributed significantly, matching Tonje with 17 points, while adding four assists and two steals. Max Klesmit had another impressive game, posting 15 points, four assists and a game-high five steals.
Sophomore forward Nolan Winter had a solid game as well, recording 10 points and eight rebounds — his second consecutive game with eight boards. Junior Xavier Amos came off the bench and had his best performance as a Badger, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 12 minutes. Marcus Ilver made the most of his limited minutes, contributing three points, three rebounds, a steal and a block.
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First Half
Appalachian State came out shooting hot, hitting seven of their first 10 shots and jumping to a 17-8 lead early in the game. But, Wisconsin responded with an incredible 24-0 run, taking control of the game with their aggressive defense and fast-paced offense. Tonje’s drives set up multiple three-pointers for his teammates, while Klesmit’s steals led to easy buckets for the Badgers. By halftime, Wisconsin built a commanding 36-20 lead.
Second Half
The Badgers continued to dominate in the second half, with Crowl knocking down a three-pointer and Klesmit staying aggressive on defense, racking up more steals and pushing the pace. Amos made a strong impact off the bench, getting a steal and hitting a pull-up three to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 31 points. Tonje wowed the crowd with an acrobatic reverse layup and Ilver continued to impress, contributing a steal, a block and an and-one finish.
With two minutes left, Wisconsin emptied their bench, cruising to a decisive 87-56 victory.
Postgame Thoughts
This game highlighted the balance and depth of Wisconsin’s lineup. Crowl finally had a breakout game, showing his leadership on both ends of the floor, while John Tonje has emerged as the team’s go-to scorer, averaging 17.7 points per game through the first three games. Klesmit continued his defensive excellence and the contributions from key players like Winter and Amos further solidified the Badgers’ promising outlook this season.
Wisconsin has a huge matchup next, taking on the No. 9 ranked Arizona Wildcats at the Kohl Center on Friday, Nov. 15, with tip-off set for 8 p.m.