No. 24 Wisconsin Defeats Iowa Behind Nick Boyd's Big Game

Boyd records near triple-double as Badgers pull away in second half

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Nick Boyd registered game highs of 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, and Nolan Winter scored 18 points to lead No. 24 Wisconsin to an 84-71 victory over visiting Iowa on Sunday. The Badgers shot 53.8% from the field, including 10-for-24 from 3-point range, to win for the third time in four games. Bennett Stirtz paced Iowa with 23 points, but the Hawkeyes lost for the third time in four games.

Why it matters

This Big Ten conference matchup between two ranked teams was an important game in the race for NCAA Tournament positioning. Wisconsin improved to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in the Big Ten, while Iowa fell to 19-8 and 9-7 in conference play.

The details

Wisconsin seized control in the second half with an 11-0 run and later a 10-0 surge to pull away. Boyd just missed a triple-double, while Austin Rapp hit four 3-pointers off the bench for the Badgers. Iowa got double-digit scoring from four players, led by Stirtz's 23 points, but couldn't keep pace with Wisconsin's hot shooting.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 23, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin.

The players

Nick Boyd

A standout guard for No. 24 Wisconsin who recorded game highs of 27 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.

Nolan Winter

A key contributor for Wisconsin, scoring 18 points in the victory.

Bennett Stirtz

The leading scorer for Iowa with 23 points in the losing effort.

Austin Rapp

A Wisconsin guard who hit 4 of 5 3-pointers off the bench and finished with 14 points.

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What they’re saying

“Nick Boyd was the difference-maker for us today. His all-around game was phenomenal and really sparked our second-half run.”

— Greg Gard, Wisconsin Head Coach (austinnews.net)

“We just couldn't match Wisconsin's shooting in the second half. They made some big plays to pull away when we had cut the deficit to three points.”

— Fran McCaffery, Iowa Head Coach (austinnews.net)

What’s next

Wisconsin will look to build on this win as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth, while Iowa will try to regroup and get back on track in Big Ten play.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of having a versatile, all-around star like Nick Boyd, who can impact the game in multiple ways. Wisconsin's ability to shoot the ball effectively from deep also proved to be a key factor in the victory.