Wisconsin Holds Off Denver in Season Opener

Eian Elmer scored 18 points as Wisconsin beat Denver 75-68 in Madison in the first game of the nonconference season.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Wisconsin Holds Off Denver in Season Opener

Wisconsin defeated Denver 75-68 on Monday in Madison, Wisconsin, in the season opener for both teams. Denver rallied from a 17-point early second-half deficit with a 12-1 run before Wisconsin pulled away.

Why it matters

The win gives Wisconsin a start after a 24-11 season that ended with an 83-82 first-round NCAA Tournament loss to No. 12 seed High Point. Wisconsin is also working in eight new players, so the opener offers an early read on how the reshaped roster performs.

Elmer scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, and Carrington added 15 points for Wisconsin. Denver's Carson Johnson led all scorers with 27 points, while Nolan Winter pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

The players

Eian Elmer

Elmer transferred to Wisconsin after helping Miami (Ohio) to a 31-0 regular-season record last season.

Carson Johnson

Johnson was the Summit League Player of the Year last season and led Denver with 27 points in the loss.

The details

Wisconsin went on a 13-0 run late in the first half and led 44-28 at halftime after Owen Foxwell's 3-pointer. Denver went without a field goal over the final five minutes of the first half, then rallied in the second half before Wisconsin responded with a 7-0 run and pushed its lead to 51-34 on Foxwell's lay-in.

Last season: Wisconsin finished 24-11 and was upset by No. 12 seed High Point, 83-82, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Monday, Nov. 2: Wisconsin defeated Denver 75-68 in the season opener.

Season Trajectory

Wisconsin's opener follows a 24-11 season that ended with an early NCAA Tournament exit to High Point. The win gives a team with eight new players an early marker as it tries to rebuild momentum after that loss.

Fantasy managers tracking Nolan Winter should note his 14-rebound game, while those watching Wisconsin's rotation will see whether Foxwell's seven assists become a steady role. The opener shows how Wisconsin's new players fit alongside returning contributors like Elmer and Carrington.

The takeaway

Early-season results like this one matter most as a baseline, since the new Wisconsin roster will be judged by how its rotation holds up once league play begins.