Wisconsin upsets Michigan State 77-74 in Big Ten Tournament semifinals
The Wisconsin Badgers upset the Michigan State Spartans 77-74 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. John Tonje exploded for a game-high 32 points including a series of clutch shots down the stretch as the Badgers held off top seeded Michigan State to reach the Big Ten title game for a second consecutive season.
Michigan State jumped out to a 13-4 lead as Jase Richardson caught fire in the opening minutes but Wisconsin responded with a run of their own and eventually took a 37-33 edge into the locker room. Just moments after Tonje knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer, John Blackwell drilled a triple to put the Badgers up 60-54 with just seven minutes to go.
Richardson scored six straight points to tie it with just 6:18 left but Wisconsin continued to forge ahead as Blackwell and Tonje took over in the final minutes. With less than 10 seconds to go, Michigan State had a pair of potential game-tying shots but Tre Holloman's 3-point attempt was blocked by Carter Gilmore and Jeremy Fears' heave was stripped as time expired.
"One heck of a college basketball game between two really good teams and high level programs that have been in this position a lot. It takes a team and we have a really good one," Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said following the 77-74 win. The Badgers will appear in the Big Ten Tournament championship game for the ninth time in program history.
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