Wisconsin jumped out to a 38-14 halftime lead, then outscored Stout 44-19 in the second half. The Wisconsin intensity forced 32 Stout turnovers.
On the boards, the Blue Devils played very evenly with the Badgers, as the more athletic home team pulled down 42 to Stout\'s 30. But in the first half, Wisconsin held only a 21-17 bulge.
Stout\'s Jacob Nonemacher led all players with seven rebounds, six in the first half, but was held to only six points. Eric Heisler had six points for Stout.
The Badgers were led by Jason Chappell with 14 points. Brian Butch had 12 points and Jason Bohannon came off the bench for 11 points. Alando Tucker, the Big Ten preseason player of the year, had five rebounds and five points.
Blue Devil coach Eddie Andrist told his players in the locker room after the game to \"enjoy the moment.\" Andrist told the media after the game, \"What an opportunity for our players to experience this tonight. This is the big stage. They will remember this all of their lives.
\"We will be able to take a lot from this. I am excited about this group of guys. I see guys with potential. We have a couple of 7-foot guys that once they click...\"
Nonemacher, and his twin brother John, certainly had an opportunity to experience the Kohl Center - and the enthusiastic Wisconsin fans. The brothers combined for six blocked shots, four by Jacob, with the majority coming in the first half. Jacob (7-foot, 255-lbs) drew the ire of the crowd when he was called for an offensive fould on a first half break away dunk when he went over the much smaller Tanner Bronson (5-11, 160).
\"Once I saw Tanner underneath the basket,\" Nonemacher said, \"I was like he is going to earn this foul or he is going to get out of the way. I just hope he\'s all right.\"
\"This game was the best thing for us,\" Nonemacher said. As he left the interview table, Nonemacher drew points with the southeastern Wisconsin media when he said \"Go Badgers.\"