Men’s Basketball Falls to Wisconsin 88-61

Monday, December 22

Madison, Wis./Kohl Center

8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT

Central Michigan University

4-9,0-1MAC

Wisconsin

8-4,1-1Big Ten

Central Mich.

Wisconsin

Photo by: Lauren Verellen

12/22/2025 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Full Gamebook (PDF)

Wisconsin shoots 53.7 percent from the floor, hits 13 3-pointers and uses early second half run to take control of the game; Tamario Adley leads Chippewas with 13 points.

By: Jasper Gallagher

MADISON, Wis.— Central Michigan battled throughout, but it couldn't overcome a high-powered Wisconsin's offensive performance led by Nolan Winter and Austin Wrapp who each had 18 points. The Badgers pulled away in the second half to register an 88-61 win over the Chippewas Monday night before 14,106 fans at the Kohl Center.

The loss drops Central Michigan to 4-9 on the year, while Wisconsin improves to 8-3. Next up for Central Michigan, the Chippewas will host Ohio on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at McGuirk Arena for their first Mid-American Conference home game of the season. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. ET.

Wisconsin converted 41.9 percent (13-31) from three-point range and hit 53.7 percent (29-54) of its field goal attempts. Rapp hit 7-10 from the floor, while Winter went 6-9 on the floor and 5-6 from the free throw line. Nick Boyd added 12 for the Badgers, and Braeden Carrington tallied nine.

Central Michigan turned the ball over a season-low tying eight times and had 13 assists on 22 field goals. The Chippewas placed two players in double figure scoring including guard Tamario Adley, who finished with 13, and center Nathan Claerbaut, who added 12 points. Claerbaut has now scored in double figures in 11 of Central Michigan's 13 games. Logan McIntire recorded eight points on the evening, going 2-3 from three-point range, and added his fourth block of the season.

The Chippewas found their only lead in the first half, when Logan McIntire broke away for a fast break three pointer, pushing the score to 11-10 in the Chippewas favor. Wisconsin then went on a nine-point run and did not concede the lead again.

The Badgers broke the game open in the first 10 minutes of the second half, when they outscored the Chippewas 26-6, and scored three three pointers in roughly three minutes. Wisconsin found their largest lead of the game (35) with eight minutes remaining, when they led 71-36.

Wisconsin held CMU scoreless over the final 1:55 and scored their final basket on a three pointer by Jack Robinson with 49 seconds remaining.

Central Michigan head coach Andy Bronkema was in high spirits heading back into conference play.

"We had one glimpse of a few possessions where we wanted to cave in effort wise. Time out, called them out, they stepped back up. Biggest moment for our team going into Christmas here, biggest moment," Bronkema said. "Obviously they spread the floor, right? They were pretty good passers. Their length could pass over top of us, fell asleep on the backside a couple times. It's a good team, but I love how we competed today, really did."

"I thought a few guys competed as hard as they have all year for us and certainly like what (Jalen) Kampen brought to the table, he's competitive, he's coachable, and he's got grit. You'll see more of that down the road. The opportunity is there every day and now we're going to keep building."

Wisconsin led 40-28 at halftime, the largest lead for either team through 20 minutes. The Badgers outscored the Chippewas 17-9 to end the half.

Central Michigan started Nick Mullen at forward, Claerbaut at center, and Adley alongside Jaxson Whitaker and Phat Phat Brooks at guard.

— CMU —