Wisconsin Advances Past Montana 85-66 in NCAA Tournament

Wisconsin's men's basketball team secured a convincing 85-66 victory over Montana in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, marking their first tournament win since 2022. John Blackwell led the Badgers with 19 points, supported by strong performances from Steven Crowl, John Tonje, and others, with five players scoring in double figures. Despite a competitive first half, Wisconsin pulled away in the second half, aided by crucial defensive stops and timely scoring from backup forward Carter Gilmore. The Badgers dominated the boards, outrebounding Montana 40-29, which helped maintain their lead throughout the game. Wisconsin will next face the winner of the matchup between No. 6 BYU and No. 11 VCU as they aim for a spot in the Sweet 16. Montana, making its NCAA Tournament return after several years, concluded its season with solid contributions from Kai Johnson and Te'Jon Sawyer, who each scored 15 points.