Ball State University Athletics
Tuesday, November 11
Madison, Wisc.
8:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM CT
Ball State University
2-1,0-0MAC
55
at
86
Wisconsin
3-0,0-0Big Ten
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Ball St.
26
29
55
Wisconsin
39
47
86
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Men's Basketball Falls at No. 24 Wisconsin
November 11, 2025 | Men's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. – The Ball State men's basketball team went into halftime with momentum but fell 86-55 to No. 24 Wisconsin on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.
The Cardinals (2-1) scored 16 of the last 23 points of the opening period to get within 39-26 at the break and trailed 44-31 following a Devon Barnes layup with 18:21 to play. The host Badgers (3-0) rattled off a 21-5 run over the ensuing eight minutes to take control of the game, which was Ball State's first on the road of the regular season.
Elmore James IV led a trio of Cardinals in double figures scoring with 17 points. Barnes (12 points and five assists) and Mason Jones (11 points, four rebounds and a career-high four steals) also contributed to an offense that shot 50 percent from the field over the final eight minutes of the first half to give Ball State momentum going into the break. Jones also tallied a career-high in 3-pointers with three.
Freshman Preston Copeland came off the bench for the Cardinals to score his first collegiate points (four) while adding three rebounds and two steals.
Nolan Winter notched game highs in points (19) and rebounds (10) for the Badgers, who hosted their second straight Mid-American Conference opponent (Northern Illinois last Friday).
Both teams had the same number of bench points (26), while the hosts led in rebounding 45-25. Wisconsin committed one more turnover (15-14) resulting in one more point off turnovers (12-11) for the Cardinals.
Ball State shot 34 percent (18-53) from the field including 30.4 percent (7-23) from distance and made 57.1 percent (12-21) of its free throw attempts. Wisconsin went 50 percent (32-64) on field goals, 36.8 percent (14-38) on 3-pointers and made all eight free throw attempts.
The Cardinals return home to face Little Rock at 7 p.m., on Saturday.
The Cardinals (2-1) scored 16 of the last 23 points of the opening period to get within 39-26 at the break and trailed 44-31 following a Devon Barnes layup with 18:21 to play. The host Badgers (3-0) rattled off a 21-5 run over the ensuing eight minutes to take control of the game, which was Ball State's first on the road of the regular season.
Elmore James IV led a trio of Cardinals in double figures scoring with 17 points. Barnes (12 points and five assists) and Mason Jones (11 points, four rebounds and a career-high four steals) also contributed to an offense that shot 50 percent from the field over the final eight minutes of the first half to give Ball State momentum going into the break. Jones also tallied a career-high in 3-pointers with three.
Freshman Preston Copeland came off the bench for the Cardinals to score his first collegiate points (four) while adding three rebounds and two steals.
Nolan Winter notched game highs in points (19) and rebounds (10) for the Badgers, who hosted their second straight Mid-American Conference opponent (Northern Illinois last Friday).
Both teams had the same number of bench points (26), while the hosts led in rebounding 45-25. Wisconsin committed one more turnover (15-14) resulting in one more point off turnovers (12-11) for the Cardinals.
Ball State shot 34 percent (18-53) from the field including 30.4 percent (7-23) from distance and made 57.1 percent (12-21) of its free throw attempts. Wisconsin went 50 percent (32-64) on field goals, 36.8 percent (14-38) on 3-pointers and made all eight free throw attempts.
The Cardinals return home to face Little Rock at 7 p.m., on Saturday.
Team Stats
BSU
Wisc
FG%
.340
.500
3FG%
.304
.368
FT%
.571
1.000
RB
25
45
TO
14
15
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball // Post press conference w/Coach Capko, President Mearns, Jeff Mitchell & David Eha
Thursday, March 26
Men's Basketball // Coach Capko 1st Day on Campus
Tuesday, March 24
Men's Basketball // Coach Capko has arrived! Walk and Talk upon arrival
Monday, March 23
Men's Basketball // Welcome Coach Capko!
Friday, March 20