Newly ranked Badgers avoid upset by UTRGV

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Wisconsin trailed by four at halftime before rallying

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Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter (31) dribbles the ball against Texas-Rio Grande Valley guard Hasan Abdul Hakim (14) during Monday’s game in Madison, Wis. KAYLA WOLF — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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John Blackwell scored a career-high 30 points and John Tonje added 19 as No. 19 Wisconsin rallied to beat UT Rio Grande Valley 87-84 Monday night.

Wisconsin overcame a 52-48 halftime deficit to extend its season-opening winning streak to five games. The Vaqueros (3-3) entered with a three-game winning streak.

Tonje coming off a 41-point effort in a win over Arizona, hit four free throws to give Wisconsin an 82-77 lead with just over two minutes left. DK Thorn hit a deep 3-pointer that pulled the Vaqueros within 85-84 with 1:02 left.

After each team missed a jumper in the lane, Blackwell hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to put Wisconsin up 87-84.

Hasan Abdul Hakim scored 19 points and Trey Miller 12 for UTRGV.

The Vaqueros refused to fold when Wisconsin made a second-half run and took a five-point lead with just over 3 ½ minutes remaining, making it one-possession game down the stretch.

No. 4 Auburn 102, North Alabama 69 >> Johni Broome had 30 points and 17 rebounds as No. 4 Auburn beat North Alabama.

Denver Jones added 13 points and a career-high nine assists for the Tigers (4-0). Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly both scored 12.

Auburn fell behind twice in the first half but was able to take firm control in the final minutes before halftime. Broome scored 16 first-half points in the final 7:35 alone.

Jacari Lane led the Lions (3-2) with 16 points. Daniel Ortiz and Will Soucie added 15 apiece

No. 5 Iowa State 87, IU-Indianapolis 52 >> Curtis Jones scored 20 points and Tamin Lipsey added 17 to lead No. 5 Iowa State past IU Indianapolis.

It was Jones’ second straight 20-point game off the bench and fourth in his two seasons with the Cyclones (3-0).

Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson had his first double-double for Iowa State with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Keshon Gilbert had 11 points and eight assists, and Lipsey led the Cyclones with five steals.

Paul Zilinskas led the Jaguars (2-3) with 16 points and Jarvis Walker added eight.

No. 20 Arkansas 91, Pacific 72 >> Adou Thiero scored 23 points, and No. 20 Arkansas pulled away from Pacific.

Thiero was 8 for 10 from the field as Arkansas (3-1) shot 60% as a team. Boogie Fland scored 20 points, and Zvonimir Ivisic finished with 15. DJ Wagner had 14 points and five assists.

Pacific (3-3) lingered until the final 12 minutes, pulling within two at one juncture. But the Tigers went more than eight minutes without a field goal and Arkansas kept building its lead.

Michigan 94, Miami (Ohio) 67 >> Nimari Burnett scored a season high 18 points and Auburn transfer Tre Donaldson matched his career high with 16 as Michigan roared away from Miami (OH) in the second half to post a win in an opening-round game in the Fort Myers Tipoff tournament.

Michigan is now 3-1 to start the Dusty May era in Ann Arbor and is 3-0 at home. Donaldson scored 16 points in his debut and has scored in double figures in all four games.