Boyd and Winter lead No. 24 Wisconsin past Iowa, 84-71
Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz (14) dribbles against Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Madison, Wis. Credit: AP/Kayla Wolf
MADISON, Wis. — 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.
Bennett Stirtz’s layup trimmed Iowa's deficit to 68-65, but Austin Rapp hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel a 10-point Wisconsin run. Boyd’s layup put the Badgers ahead 78-65 with just under four minutes remaining.
John Blackwell hit four free throws after a deadball technical foul to extend the lead to 82-69 with 1:02 left.
Rapp scored 14 points and Blackwell had 13 for Wisconsin (19-8, 11-5 Big Ten), which bounced back from an 86-69 loss at Ohio State.
Stirtz had 23 points for Iowa (19-8, 9-7), which was coming off a 57-52 win at home over No. 9 Nebraska. Alvaro Folgueiras and Tate Sage scored 11 apiece.
Wisconsin shot 53.8%, including 10 of 24 beyond the arc. The Badgers hit 18 of 20 free throws, including 14 of 15 in the second half. Boyd shot 9 of 16 and Winter 8 of 11.
Stirtz opened the second half with a 3 to put Iowa up 44-41, but Wisconsin answered with an 11-0 run, going in front 51-44 on Boyd’s driving layup.
Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter, center left, dunks against Iowa forward Cooper Koch (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Madison, Wis. Credit: AP/Kayla Wolf
Andrew Rohde’s 3-pointer put the Badgers in front 64-57, but Stirtz hit a jumper and followed with a steal and layup to make it 64-61.
Wisconsin, which trailed by nine early, was within 41-40 at halftime despite Blackwell being limited to 10 scoreless minutes with two fouls.
Boyd and Winter combined for 29 of Wisconsin’s first-half points, making 11 of 16 shots, while the rest of the team was 4 for 12.
Up next
Iowa hosts Ohio State on Wednesday.
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard reacts to a foul call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Madison, Wis. Credit: AP/Kayla Wolf
Wisconsin plays at Oregon on Wednesday.
