No. 24 Wisconsin Defeats Iowa 84-71 Behind Boyd and Winter

Badgers bounce back from loss to Ohio State with strong second-half performance

Feb. 22, 2026 at 11:35pm

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Nick Boyd scored 27 points and Nolan Winter added 18 as No. 24 Wisconsin pulled away late for an 84-71 victory over Iowa on Sunday. The Badgers shot 53.8% from the field, including 10-of-24 from beyond the arc, and hit 18-of-20 free throws to secure the win.

Why it matters

This victory helps Wisconsin maintain its position in the Big Ten standings after a recent loss to Ohio State. The Badgers are looking to secure a strong seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament, while Iowa is also fighting for position in the conference.

The details

Wisconsin used a 10-0 run early in the second half to take control of the game after Iowa had briefly taken the lead. The Badgers were able to hold off a late Iowa charge, with Austin Rapp hitting a pair of key 3-pointers to fuel a 10-point Wisconsin run that put the game out of reach. John Blackwell also hit four free throws late to extend the Badgers' lead.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • Wisconsin was coming off an 86-69 loss at Ohio State.
  • Iowa was coming off a 57-52 win at home over No. 9 Nebraska.

The players

Nick Boyd

A key scorer for the Badgers, Boyd led the team with 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting.

Nolan Winter

Wisconsin's second-leading scorer, Winter added 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

Austin Rapp

Rapp hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers in the second half to help Wisconsin pull away.

John Blackwell

Blackwell scored 13 points and hit 4 free throws late to extend the Badgers' lead.

Bennett Stirtz

Stirtz led Iowa with 23 points, but the Hawkeyes were unable to overcome Wisconsin's strong second-half performance.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Wisconsin will look to build on this win when they travel to Oregon on Wednesday, while Iowa will host Ohio State in a key Big Ten matchup.

The takeaway

This victory shows that Wisconsin is a team to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, as they were able to bounce back from a recent loss and secure a convincing win over a tough Iowa squad. The Badgers' balanced scoring attack and strong shooting performance were the keys to their success.