Tonje scores 32 as No. 18 Wisconsin tops No. 7 Michigan St. 77-74 in Big Ten semis
INDIANAPOLIS — John Tonje scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help No. 18 Wisconsin beat No. 7 Michigan State 77-74 on Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
John Blackwell added 14 points as the Badgers (26-8) won for the third time in four days. They will play No. 11 Maryland or No. 22 Michigan for the tournament title on Sunday.
Jase Richardson had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Spartans (27-6). Jeremy Fears Jr. had 14 points and six assists, but he had the ball knocked away in the waning seconds as he tried to tie the score with a heave from near the midcourt logo.
Michigan State, the league’s regular-season champs, had won eight in a row.
Wisconsin erased a 45-41 deficit with an 11-0 run in the second half. The Badgers were pushed to the very end, but they used four straight points to make it 72-67 with 1:10 to play.
Takeaways
Wisconsin: The Badgers followed an 86-point game with 19 3-pointers by showing they could win a grind-it-out game, too. Tonje could make Wisconsin a sneaky Final Four pick.
Michigan State: The Spartans were rolling until Saturday. Could this loss cost the Spartans a No. 2 seed for the NCAA tourney? Maybe. But getting an extra day off might help more.
Key moment
After Tonje missed a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left, Blackwell tried to chase down the rebound, but his path was impeded by Jaden Akins, who was called for the foul. Blackwell made both free throws to give the Badgers a 74-70 lead with 31.4 seconds to go.
Key stat
The Badgers made three more free throws than Michigan State, 22-19.
Up next
Wisconsin will try to win its first Big Ten tourney title since 2015 and claim the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Spartans will find out their tourney fate Sunday.
-
Michigan State falls in Big Ten Tournament semis, 77-74, to Wisconsin
Wisconsin has ended Michigan State basketball's Big Ten Tournament run in the semifinal in a hard fought 77-74 gameYahoo Sports - 10h -
RECAP: John Tonje leads Wisconsin to thrilling Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan State
Wisconsin basketball defeated the Michigan State Spartans 77-74 in a Big Ten Tournament thriller on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, Indiana.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Wisconsin ends Michigan State's Big Ten tournament run off clean no-call block by John Tonje in final seconds
The Spartans were looking for the foul, but Tonje's well-timed strip helped the Badgers secure a 77-74 win.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Tonje spurs record-tying 3-point flurry as No. 18 Wisconsin beats UCLA 86-70 in Big Ten Tournament
John Tonje matched his career high with six 3-pointers on his way to 26 points, and No. 18 Wisconsin tied the Big Ten Tournament single-game record by making 19 3s in an 86-70 victory over ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Nolan Winter and John Tonje lead No. 18 Wisconsin over Northwestern 70-63
Nolan Winter and John Tonje each scored 18 points to lead No. 18 Wisconsin to a 70-63 victory over Northwestern in the second round of the Big Ten TournamentABC News - 2d -
Michigan State basketball's Big Ten tournament run ends with 77-74 loss to Wisconsin
Michigan State basketball's Big Ten tournament came to an end Saturday with a loss to Wisconsin. Next up, the real March Madness.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Takeaways from Wisconsin's thrilling Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan State
Wisconsin basketball advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final with a heart-stopping 77-74 win over Michigan State on Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Nolan Winter and John Tonje lead No. 18 Wisconsin over Northwestern 70-63
Nolan Winter and John Tonje each scored 18 points to lead No. 18 Wisconsin to a 70-63 victory over Northwestern in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. The Badgers (24-8), ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Was Michigan State basketball vs Wisconsin no-call at the buzzer correct? You decide
Wisconsin's John Tonje reached in and swiped at ball as Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. attempted to shoot tying 3-pointer in Big Ten tournament.Yahoo Sports - 9h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Dick Vitale gets emotional talking about cancer battle on Duke-Louisville broadcast
ESPN's Dick Vitale said Saturday's broadcast would be his last of this season. "Have faith and believe," he told cancer patients.Yahoo Sports - 31m -
Revealed: Arsenal & Liverpool want €50m winger, he’s open to transfer this summer
Arsenal and Liverpool are among the clubs keen on the potential transfer of Lyon wonderkid winger Malick Fofana this summer.Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Duke coach says Cooper Flagg playing in ACC tourney is 'not worth it'
Flagg's sprained ankle looms large for the Blue Devils with March Madness right around the corner. But Jon Scheyer appears to be taking the right approach.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
New York Giants' Paulson Adebo embracing opportunity to be CB1
Paulson Adebo knows the New York Giants brought him in to be their top cornerback and he's fully prepared to embrace that role.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
College hoops live updates: UNC in close one, Arkansas out of SEC tourney
An eventful Thursday started with an ankle injury to Duke star Cooper Kupp. Now, the Tar Heels taking on Wake Forest leads live action. Follow along here.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More in Sports
-
Knicks' frustration boils over as Tom Thibodeau and Josh Hart get into heated exchange during loss to Warriors
New York has lost four of six and has the third-worst offense since the All-Star breakCBS Sports - 40m -
2025 March Madness: Conference tournament scores, automatic bids, tickets punched to Big Dance, brackets
With Selection Sunday here, check out the the teams who have earned AQ bids to the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 41m -
Real Madrid won't play without 72 hours' rest
Real Madrid's official TV channel have confirmed the team will refuse to play in future if their players aren't given a minimum 72 hours' rest between matches.ESPN - 57m -
Late Hollerbach goal stuns Bayern in Bundesliga
A moment of uncertainty from goalkeeper Jonas Urbig allowed Benedict Hollerbach to score a late goal as Union Berlin secured a 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich.ESPN - 57m -
USMNT's Haji Wright nets 1st hat trick in England
A 26-year-old from Los Angeles, Wright scored in the 21st minute, then converted a penalty kick in the 29th after he was fouled by Chris Mepham. Wright scored in the 73rd for his 10th goal in 19 ...ESPN - 57m