Nick Boyd scored 20 of his career-high 25 points in a white-hot first half and No. 24 Wisconsin made quick work of Northern Illinois, prevailing 97-72 on Friday night in Madison, Wis.
Boyd, who played for Florida Atlantic’s Final Four team in 2023 and spent last season at San Diego State, made 8 of 16 shots in his second game for Wisconsin (2-0), including five of his first seven attempts.
He got plenty of help from John Blackwell (15 points, six rebounds) and Nolan Winter (12 points, seven rebounds). Wisconsin raced out to a lead of as many as 22 points during the first half.
The Badgers shot 49.2% from the field and 28 of 37 from the free-throw line for the game.
JJ Taylor had 17 points to lead Northern Illinois but lost six turnovers. Jao Ituka scored 13 off the bench as the outmatched Huskies (1-1) committed 17 turnovers and 29 fouls on the night.
Boyd helped the Badgers race out to a 12-2 lead less than three minutes into the game. He scored on a fast break, a triple and a slick reverse layup.
Austin Rapp connected with Winter for a crowd-pleasing alley-oop dunk at the 11:56 mark, which made it 26-12 Wisconsin. Soon after, the Badgers entered the bonus for the half; they enjoyed 16-for-21 foul shooting in the first 20 minutes.
Blackwell’s free throws put Wisconsin at the 50-point threshold with 40 seconds left in the first half, and he added a jumper for good measure to send the Badgers into the break ahead 52-33.
The second half was more competitive but less consequential. The Huskies had a better showing on the glass and on defense, but they trailed Wisconsin between 20 and 25 points much of the way, clawing within 19 just once.
NIU’s Makhai Valentine went down with an apparent lower-body injury and had to be helped off the court with 14:51 left. Valentine was able to return later on and got a technical foul for taunting after a late-game dunk. He finished with five points.
