MADISON, Wis. – John Tonje scored a career-high 41 points – two short of the Wisconsin record – to lead the Badgers #9 Arizona 103-88 Friday night.
Wisconsin (4-0) never trailed and fans stormed the Kohl Center field after the final horn sounded.
Tonje shot 8 of 14 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and made 21 of 22 from the foul line. His 21 free throws set a school mark.
Wisconsin’s scoring record is held by Frank Kaminsky, who attended Friday’s game as part of a ceremony honoring the Badgers’ 2014 and 2015 Final Four teams. Kaminsky scored 43 against North Dakota on the 19th. November 2013.
Jaden Bradley had 22 points, Trey Townsend added 17 and KJ Lewis 15 for Arizona (2-1). John Blackwell scored 14 and Max Klesmit 13 for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin raised a banner bearing former coach Bo Ryan’s name in the Kohl Center rafters at halftime. Ryan was inducted at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last month.
Takeaways
Arizona: Wildcats couldn’t overcome tough night preseason Associated Press All-America guard Caleb Love, who shot 2 of 13 and scored six points before fouling out with 4:57 left.
Wisconsin: After blowing an 18-point lead, Wisconsin wasted no time regaining control as the Badgers avenged a Defeat 98-73 in Arizona last season.
Key moment
Arizona rallied to tie it at 65 with 14:13 left on Lewis’ layup that capped an 8-0 run. Blackwell gave Wisconsin the lead back for good with 13:36 left. After that game-tying basket from Lewis, Arizona missed its next six field goal attempts.
Key statistics
The game featured a total of 63 fouls (32 by Arizona) and 87 free throws. Wisconsin was 41 of 47 from the line. Arizona was 28 of 40.
To be continued
Arizona hosts No. 6 Duke next Friday. Wisconsin will host Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Monday.
