Wisconsin Badgers defeat Ohio State 92-82

Wisconsin puts five players in double figures to win their fourth straight over Ohio State

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The University of Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 92-82 in a Big Ten conference matchup. Wisconsin guard John Blackwell scored a game-high 22 points, while teammate Austin Rapp came off the bench to score 19 points, including nine straight in the first half that helped erase an early deficit. Wisconsin's backcourt duo of Blackwell and Nick Boyd combined for over 40 points, taking advantage of driving lanes that opened up thanks to Rapp's hot shooting. The Badgers' reserves also stepped up on the defensive end, with Jack Janicki and Braeden Carrington helping limit Ohio State's backcourt duo of Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr.

Why it matters

This win puts Wisconsin in a good spot heading into their mini bye week, with an 8-3 conference record that matches the second-best 11-game start under head coach Greg Gard. The Badgers will now have a chance to rest up before playing five straight Quad-1 games, which will be crucial for their NCAA Tournament hopes.

The details

Wisconsin was able to erase an early double-digit deficit by going on a 10-0 run late in the first half, sparked by nine straight points from reserve guard Austin Rapp. Rapp hit a pair of three-pointers and grabbed an offensive rebound that led to another three, giving Wisconsin its first lead of the game. The Badgers then scored on their final 10 possessions of the half to take a 46-40 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Wisconsin's backcourt duo of John Blackwell and Nick Boyd continued to attack the rim, combining for 42 points in the game. The Badgers' reserves also made key contributions on the defensive end, with Jack Janicki and Braeden Carrington helping limit Ohio State's backcourt duo of Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr.

  • Wisconsin fell behind by double figures in all three games of its final extended homestand of the season and found a way to erase all of them.
  • Starting with Rapp's three at the 6:12 mark in the first half, Wisconsin scored on the final 10 possessions to take a six-point lead into halftime.

The players

John Blackwell

A Wisconsin guard who scored a game-high 22 points in the win.

Austin Rapp

A Wisconsin reserve guard who came off the bench to score 19 points, including nine straight in the first half that helped erase an early deficit.

Nick Boyd

A Wisconsin guard who combined with Blackwell to score over 40 points, taking advantage of driving lanes that opened up thanks to Rapp's shooting.

Jack Janicki

A Wisconsin sophomore who made his first career start and helped the Badgers' defense limit Ohio State's backcourt duo.

Braeden Carrington

A Wisconsin reserve guard whose defensive hustle stood out, including a key block late in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest difference between the last couple of games when we started out slow was our encouragement in the huddle. The first timeout, just encouraging each other to keep going and keep getting to where we needed to go in terms of the offensive end, and make it a little tougher on defense. The positivity, the encouragement, the focus on just pointing to each other rather than trying to point the finger. Obviously, it paid off.”

— Nick Boyd, Wisconsin senior (SI.com)

“It's just confidence. We've all been in his shoes before coming to college and playing against high-level players, where you just got to adjust. It starts with your mindset and confidence, telling yourself that I believe I can get a stop, and no matter what, I'm going to keep competing and fighting to the end. He's been able to do that.”

— Nick Boyd, Wisconsin senior (SI.com)

What’s next

The Badgers will have a mini bye week to rest up before playing five straight Quad-1 games, which will be crucial for their NCAA Tournament hopes.

The takeaway

This win highlights the Badgers' resilience and ability to overcome early deficits, as well as the depth and balance of their roster. With contributions from both the starting backcourt and the bench, Wisconsin was able to defeat a talented Ohio State team and put themselves in a good position heading into the final stretch of the season.