John Blackwell's career night lifts Wisconsin over Iowa

John Blackwell scored a career-high 32 points and Wisconsin hit a school-record 21 3-pointers to roll past visiting Iowa 116-85 on Friday night for its first Big Ten victory of the season.

Playing for the first time in 12 days, Wisconsin (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten) used an 8-0 run to push its lead to 67-47 with just over 15 1/2 minutes remaining. Later, Kamari McGee hit consecutive 3-pointers to put the Badgers up 85-59 with 9:44 left.

The Badgers, who entered shooting just 32.5 percent from deep, hit 21 of 31 3-pointers, including a career-best six by Blackwell. Wisconsin, tops in the nation in free-throw shooting at 85.1 percent, also hit 15 of 17 from the line.

Nolan Winter added 18 points and Steven Crowl scored 14, while McGee and John Tonje had 12 apiece for the Badgers, whose 116 points were their most ever at home in the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin shot 64.5 percent (40 of 62), while the Hawkeyes shot 48.5 percent. The Badgers also had a commanding 35-20 edge on the boards, with Blackwell and Winter each grabbing eight rebounds apiece.

On the other side, Drew Thelwell scored 25 points and Josh Dix had 16 for the Iowa Hawkeyes (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten).

Wisconsin hit five consecutive shots for a 14-0 run in the first half, taking a 41-30 lead on Carter Gilmore's 3-pointer from the top.

Tonje's three-point play with 1.2 seconds left put the Badgers up 54-43 at the break.

Both teams shot well in the first half. Wisconsin hit 60.6 percent, including nine of 13 beyond the arc and all five free-throw attempts, while the Hawkeyes shot 59.4 percent.

Wisconsin had an 18-9 edge on the boards in the first half, and a 10-2 advantage in second-chance points before the break.

--Field Level Media