Wisconsin Blows Out Michigan State in Big Ten Matchup

Badgers dominate from three-point range in lopsided victory over Spartans

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a Big Ten conference matchup, the Wisconsin Badgers handily defeated the Michigan State Spartans, winning by a wide margin. Wisconsin's hot shooting from three-point range, led by guard Nick Boyd's 20 first-half points, proved too much for the struggling Spartans to overcome.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for Michigan State, who had been building momentum after a recent overtime win against Illinois. The blowout defeat raises questions about the Spartans' ability to compete with top teams in the Big Ten, while solidifying Wisconsin's status as a conference contender.

The details

Wisconsin came out firing, connecting on 10 three-pointers in the first half compared to just 5 for Michigan State. Badgers guard Nick Boyd led the way with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Spartans struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with only Coen Carr providing consistent scoring in the first half. Michigan State made a brief run to cut the deficit to 9 points, but Wisconsin responded with a 12-0 run to pull away.

  • The game was played on February 10, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • At the first TV timeout, the score was 7-3 in favor of Wisconsin.
  • By the second TV timeout, Wisconsin had built a 19-14 lead.
  • Wisconsin went on a 12-0 run to take a 29-14 lead, forcing a Michigan State timeout.
  • At halftime, Wisconsin led 32-14 after making 10 three-pointers in the first half.

The players

Nick Boyd

A Wisconsin Badgers guard who scored 20 points in the first half, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range.

Coen Carr

A Michigan State Spartans player who scored 7 points in the first half, keeping the Spartans within striking distance early on.

Jordan Scott

A Michigan State Spartans player who struggled defensively, getting beaten by Wisconsin's Nick Boyd.

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who called a timeout to try and stop Wisconsin's momentum.

Keaton Wagler

An Illinois Fighting Illini player who was held to 2-of-16 shooting and 2-of-8 from three-point range in Michigan State's previous game.

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What’s next

The Spartans will look to rebound from this lopsided defeat when they return home to face the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 17th.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between Wisconsin's hot shooting and Michigan State's offensive struggles, underscoring the Spartans' need to improve their defensive intensity and three-point defense if they hope to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten conference.