Junior guard John Blackwell recorded a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds to pace Wisconsin to an 85-73 victory over visiting Northwestern on Wednesday night in Madison, Wis. in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams
Blackwell, one of two returning starters from last year’s NCAA team, had 23 points in the first half, hitting 7 of 11 shots, including 5 of 8 beyond the arc, to pace the Badgers to a 55-32 lead at the break.
His 11 rebounds tied a career high and were his most ever at Kohl Center.
Wisconsin maintained at least a 20-point advantage until Jordan Clayton’s layin made it 72-53 with 11 minutes left.
Northwestern got within 81-68 on Nick Martinelli’s jumper from the lane with just over three minutes remaining.
Nick Boyd added 20 points, including 18 in the second half, and Austin Rapp added 13 for Wisconsin (6-2, 1-0 Big Ten). The Badgers, who lost two of three on a recent road trip, improved to 5-0 at home.
Arrinten Page had 21 points and Martinelli 14 for Northwestern (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten).
It was just the second time that Northwestern reached at least 70 points in the last 51 meetings with Wisconsin.
Wisconsin finished 11 of 31 from three-point range, while the Wildcats were just 4 of 19 from deep.
Wisconsin used an early 16-2 run to build a double-digit lead, going in front 21-8 on two free throws by Nolan Winter.
Blackwell hit three consecutive 3-pointers, giving him 1,000 career points and accounting for a 9-2 spurt that pushed the lead to 30-14.
Wisconsin had no turnovers in the first half, but scored 18 points off seven Northwestern turnovers. The Badgers also had 15 assists on 17 field goals.
Wisconsin’s Andrew Rohde, who started his career at St. Thomas before two seasons at Virginia, had three points to also reach 1,000 career points and also dished out nine assists.
