NIU vs Wisconsin details as of early November 2025: Direct answer
- Wisconsin defeated Northern Illinois 97-72 in Madison on November 6–7, 2025, in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup. Wisconsin, ranked No. 24 at the time, pulled away in the second half after leading by a sizable margin early, with Nick Boyd scoring a career-high 25 points for the Badgers, including 20 in the first half. NIU’s JJ Taylor contributed 17 points in his first start of the season. Wisconsin improved to 2-0 (after a previous 2-0 start), while NIU dropped to 1-1. The game featured Wisconsin’s strong early shooting and substantial second-chance opportunities, though NIU fought back at times to trim the deficit.
Context and key takeaways
- Scoring and top performers:
- Nick Boyd led Wisconsin with 25 points, a career high, shooting efficiently and providing a scoring burst in the first half that set the tone. This performance helped Wisconsin build a large early lead and withstand NIU's push later.
* For NIU, JJ Taylor had a notable 17-point effort in his first start of the season, contributing as a scoring option and handling some of the offensive load.
- Team performance and pace:
- Wisconsin used a multi-guard rotation and solid rebounding to keep NIU at bay, including a 36-25 rebounding edge and a significant advantage on second-chance points in the first half. NIU fought to close the gap in the second half but could not complete a comeback.
- Series and context:
- This was Wisconsin’s continued momentum in early-season play and marked a return to competition against NIU for the first time since 2002, highlighting Wisconsin’s status as a top-25 program early in the season.
If you’d like, I can pull more specifics (box score details, shooting splits, or NIU’s schedule following this game) or provide a head-to-head comparison with Wisconsin’s other recent opponents.
