Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Wisconsin rides late blocks to nail-biting B1G Tournament win over Michigan State

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Wisconsin is still alive in the Big Ten Tournament, riding into Sunday’s championship game with some late-game heroics and drama on Saturday.

Facing Michigan State in the semifinals, Wisconsin and the Spartans battled back and forth throughout the 2nd half. Michigan State led by 9 points in the first half and Wisconsin led by as many as 7 points in the 2nd half, but it was destined to be a one-possession game to the final buzzer.

The finish was especially dramatic with the Badgers twice defending a 3-point lead with the Spartans trying to tie things up. John Tonje, Wisconsin’s electric scorer, set up the first dramatic moment by draining 2 free throws with 14 seconds left for a 77-74 lead.

Michigan State set up an inbounds play and tried to get a clean 3-point attempt for Tre Holloman from the top of the floor. The play appeared to initially create the space for Holloman, but Wisconsin’s Carter Gilmore covered an impressive distance to block the potentially game-tying attempt.

After Gilmore’s block, Tonje went to the line for another 1-and-1, but his first attempt was no good, keeping the score at just a 3-point lead for the Badgers. Jeremy Fears Jr. was quick to the rebound and pushed up the court to get an attempt off just inside of the halfcourt logo.

As Fears went up for the attempt, Tonje snuck in and knocked the ball free. The CBS crew was initially incredulous that no foul was called as it appeared Tonje made contact with Fears’s wrist or hand before getting to the ball, but it went down as a block for Tonje as the Badgers hung on for the dramatic win.

Tonje continued his electric week in Indianapolis with a game-high 32 points to lead all scorers. He was 12-for-14 from the free-throw line in an area that proved to be the difference for the Badgers. Gilmore was also crucial off the bench with an all-around effort of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.

Jase Richardson was Michigan State’s leading scorer with 21 points, including an efficient 4-for-5 from 3-point range. Fears chipped in 14 points and 6 assists while Holloman had 10 points but finished 3-for-12 from the floor.

With the win, Wisconsin will move on to face the winner of the Michigan vs. Maryland contest in Sunday’s title game. Meanwhile, Michigan State will wait to hear its final seeding on Selection Sunday but will not have to sweat things out this year.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.