NCAA Tournament: Wisconsin Badgers top Montana in opening round.

Wisconsin Badgers Roll Past Montana in NCAA Tournament Opener

The Wisconsin Badgers secured their first NCAA Tournament win since 2022, defeating Montana 85-66 in the first round. John Blackwell led the charge with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while four other Badgers scored in double figures.

Key Moments

• Backup forward Carter Gilmore sparked a crucial second-half run with a clutch 3-pointer and a defensive charge, helping Wisconsin extend its lead to 21 points.
• Steven Crowl added 18 points, shooting 8-for-10 from the field, while John Tonje (15 points), Xavier Amos (11), and Nolan Winter (10) contributed to the balanced scoring effort.

Big Picture

The third-seeded Badgers (27-9) avoided a repeat of last year’s first-round upset and now aim to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in eight years. Their next opponent will be either VCU or BYU in the East Region.

Montana’s Effort

The Grizzlies (25-10) were led by Te’Jon Sawyer and Kai Johnson, who each scored 15 points, but couldn’t overcome Wisconsin’s second-half surge.