MADISON, Wis. – Max Klesmit had to feel left out.

With the University of Wisconsin emphasizing shooting open three-point shots, the fifth-year senior started his final season with a 1-for-7 clunker.

Klesmit’s game-high 26 points was delivered thanks to a career-high six three-pointers, two coming on an 8-0 run early in the second half that gave the Badgers the separation needed in a 79-67 victory over Montana State at the Kohl Center.

Graduate senior John Tonje backed up his 23-point debut with a workmanlike 13 points and four rebounds while sophomore John Blackwell chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Senior Kamari McGee added 11 points, three assists, and no turnovers off the bench while Nolan Winter had eight rebounds.

Wisconsin (2-0) shot 45.3 percent from the field but went 11-for-22 from three to average 1.214 points per possession.

Brian Goracke had 14 points for the Bobcats (0-1), an NCAA Tournament team the last three seasons and one of the most experienced teams in the country, with five rotational players with 102 career games played and nine players with at least four years of college experience.

They provided a test for Wisconsin during the first half that was tied six times with 10 lead changes.

Klesmit and Tonje each had 11 in the first half to give Wisconsin a 39-33 lead, getting the same point total in different ways. Klesmit found his perimeter touch by drilling a trio of threes while Tonje’s aggressiveness got him to the line, where he went 8-for-9. The duo helped UW never go more than 2:53 between scores.

Montana State cut the Wisconsin lead to three on the first possession of the second half, but the Badgers scored eight points on their next three possessions to push the lead to 10. UW didn’t let the lead dip below nine after that, as Klesmit dropped 15 points in the second half.

What it means: Wisconsin has showcased impressive offensive balance through a small sample size. Montana State could be an NCAA Tournament team at the end of the year, so delivering a better performance on both ends of the floor was vital. It’s easy to see that Wisconsin got better from game one to game two.

Star of the game: Beyond the 26 points from Klesmit, the graduate senior registered two steals, no turnovers, and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.

Stat of the game: Wisconsin finished 20-for-21 from the free-throw line (95.2 percent) compared to Montana State going only 5-for-8.

Reason to be Concerned: Steven Crowl was quiet for the second game in a row, finishing with only six points on four shots. The speed of their bigs made it a tough game for Crowl, who has yet to get going this season.

Don’t overlook: Montana State wanted to get out and push to get open threes, but the Badgers didn’t allow the Bobcats to score a transition basket until 4:13 remained.

What’s next: Wisconsin welcomes Appalachian State – a 27-game winner a season ago – to the Kohl Center on Sunday. The Mountaineers (1-1) won the regular season title in the Sun Belt last season, the program’s first title since 1979, before being upset in the tournament semifinals and left out of the NCAA field. Needing to replace its top three scorers, the Mountaineers saw nine players make their collegiate debut in the season opener, a 14-point loss to Miami (OH). The tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on BTN Plus.

MADISON, Wis. (WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PRESS RELEASE) – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) today announced Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed November 7, 2024, as Wisconsin Saves Day in Wisconsin. The proclamation is part of a statewide effort promoting automatic saving through the workplace with the Wisconsin Saves program to improve financial well-being. The Wisconsin Saves program is an employee-focused savings initiative, which started as a pilot program in 2020. The program provides Wisconsin employers with resources to encourage their employees to save for emergencies and the future with their paychecks by using the automated saving strategy of split deposit.

“By working with our Wisconsin employers to help workers save automatically through their paychecks, the Wisconsin Saves program helps folks build toward a more secure financial future while preparing for unexpected or emergency expenses,” said Gov. Evers. “I encourage Wisconsin employers to get involved in the Wisconsin Saves program by signing up today so we can work together to build a stronger, more resilient Wisconsin for everyone.”

Participating employers receive free resources and a digital toolkit to educate their employees on the importance of building emergency savings, as well as the ease and benefits of saving automatically through split deposit. The research-based program uses the principles of behavioral economics and social marketing to change behavior. More than 100 employers in Wisconsin, representing approximately 15,000 employees, are already signed up for the Wisconsin Saves program and are actively using the program’s resources to educate their employees about split deposit and encourage the use of the automated savings strategy today.

“Wisconsin Saves is a timely program aimed at helping Wisconsin employers recruit and retain the best talent particularly during this ultra-competitive job market,” said DFI Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins. “Employers can distinguish themselves from other businesses by offering this easy-to-use financial wellness benefit that helps their employees save in the easiest and most effective manner by saving automatically through split deposit. Through this program, we are helping Wisconsinites save money, reduce debt, and build wealth through automating their savings.”

Employers can sign up for the Wisconsin Saves program on the Wisconsin Saves website, or on the DFI’s Wisconsin Saves webpage, to receive a suite of resources to help them promote split deposit as a way they support their employees in reaching their personal savings goals. All Wisconsin employers are eligible. For more information on the Wisconsin Saves program, contact DFI Office of Financial Literacy Director David Mancl at David.Mancl@dfi.wisconsin.gov.

PRESS RELEASE: DFI News Release

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