Wisconsin Shoots the Lights Out, Hands Ohio State 92-82 Loss in Madison
Ohio State came out firing in Madison on Saturday afternoon, jumping out to a 15-4 lead and looking every bit like a team ready to make a Big Ten statement. But that early momentum didn’t last.
The Buckeyes couldn’t sustain their hot start, and Wisconsin responded with a shooting clinic that turned the tide and never looked back. The Badgers walked away with a 92-82 win, powered by efficient offense, timely shooting, and a bench spark that Ohio State simply couldn’t match.
Let’s break down what stood out in this high-scoring Big Ten battle.
The Rapp Attack: Wisconsin Finds Firepower Off the Bench
Sometimes, all it takes is one unexpected spark to swing a game. For Wisconsin, that came in the form of Austin Rapp.
The sophomore guard came off the bench and lit it up in the first half, hitting five threes and scoring 19 points in just 20 minutes of action. For context, Rapp had made just four threes total over his last six games.
On Saturday, he nearly matched that in a single half.
His sudden scoring surge helped erase Ohio State’s early 11-point lead and gave Wisconsin the juice it needed to take control. The Badgers went into halftime up 49-43-and never trailed again.
Efficiency Everywhere: Badgers Shoot 51.6% from the Field
Wisconsin didn’t just shoot well-they shot smart. The Badgers finished the game at 51.6% from the field, and while they were just 9-of-26 from deep, they made up for it with high-percentage looks and relentless paint production. John Blackwell led the way with 22 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting day, while the team as a whole poured in 42 points in the paint.
Free throws? Near automatic.
Wisconsin went 19-of-21 from the line, including a clutch 17-of-19 in the second half. That kind of efficiency adds up-literally.
The Badgers averaged 1.4 points per possession, a number that tells the story of a team in rhythm and in control.
Momentum Shift: A 10-0 Run That Set the Tone
Ohio State’s early lead looked promising, but Wisconsin’s 10-0 run midway through the first half flipped the script. The Buckeyes led 21-11 with under 12 minutes to go before halftime.
Three minutes later, it was tied at 21. That run didn’t give Wisconsin the lead, but it gave them belief-and it gave the crowd energy.
By the time the Badgers took their first lead at 31-30, they had all the momentum. They would stretch that lead to as many as 16 in the second half, keeping the Buckeyes at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Shooting Woes: Mobley Struggles from Deep
For Ohio State, the offense wasn’t the problem-it was the inconsistency. The Buckeyes put up 82 points, but they needed more from their perimeter game to keep pace with Wisconsin’s firepower.
Freshman guard John Mobley Jr., who had been heating up in recent weeks, went cold at the wrong time. He shot just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc and 4-of-12 overall, finishing with nine points.
As a team, Ohio State went 10-of-29 from deep. Not disastrous, but not enough to overcome Wisconsin’s offensive efficiency, especially with Mobley struggling to find his rhythm.
Ball Movement Breakdown: Just 9 Assists for Ohio State
One of the more telling stats from this one? Ohio State finished with just nine assists on 28 made field goals.
That’s a sign of stagnant offense-too much one-on-one play and not enough ball movement. Bruce Thornton and Ivan Njegovan led the team with two assists apiece, but no Buckeye had more than that.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin dished out 16 assists on 32 made shots and turned the ball over just five times. That’s the kind of offensive balance that wins games in the Big Ten.
What’s Next
Ohio State drops to 14-7 overall and 6-5 in Big Ten play, while Wisconsin improves to 16-6 and 8-3 in the conference. The Buckeyes will look to bounce back against a struggling Maryland squad that’s just 1-8 in the Big Ten. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon at 1:00 on CBS.
If Ohio State wants to stay in the Big Ten hunt, they'll need more consistent shooting, better ball movement, and a way to stop teams like Wisconsin from getting too comfortable offensively. Saturday’s loss was a reminder: in this conference, a hot start isn’t enough-you’ve got to finish strong, too.