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Game recap, highlights: Sloppy second half leads to loss for Wisconsin

Michigan outscores Wisconsin 41-32 to win Big Ten opener

Dana Becker

John Tonje and Wisconsin open Big Ten Conference play at home Tuesday night vs. Michigan.
John Tonje and Wisconsin open Big Ten Conference play at home Tuesday night vs. Michigan. / Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 11 Wisconsin men’s basketball team struggled in the second half of their Big Ten opener on Tuesday night.

After holding a 32-26 lead on Michigan through the first 20 minutes, the Badgers saw their perfect record come to an end, falling on their home floor, 67-64.

Wisconsin (8-1, 0-1) had a chance to tie the game with nine seconds left, but Max Klesmit was unable to knock down a 3-pointer. The Wolverines (7-1, 1-0), though, failed to convert from the foul line, giving them another chance.

Instead of letting Wisconsin get off another game-tying shot attempt, Michigan fouled and the game ended in favor of the Wolverines.

John Tonje led the way for Wisconsin, scoring 18 points with three made 3-pointers. John Blackwell added 16 and nine rebounds, but those were the only two in double figures for a team that came in averaging over 80 a night.

The Badgers shot just 34 percent from the field and made only 6 of 27 from long-range. Nolan Winter, Klesmit and Kamari McGee each scored eight points. 

For Michigan, they also struggled shooting, going just 23 of 59 from the floor and 6-for-25 from deep. Vladislav Goldin scored a game-high 24 while Danny Wolf added 20. Wolf also had seven rebounds, five blocks, five assists and three steals. 

The Wolverines held a plus-6 advantage on points in the paint and blocked 11 shots. Michigan was also plus-15 on fast break points. 

Wisconsin took a nine-point lead less than 10 minutes into the game following 3-pointers by Tonje and Carter Gilmore. They also made five free throws during that span. 

Michigan, though, answered, taking the lead on a Wolf triple with just under eight minutes to play before the break. The Badgers would string together a 9-0 run highlighted by a dunk from Winter with 3:05 to go to make it 29-20.

The Wolverines scored six of the final nine points of the half, with all of them coming at the charity stripe.

Wisconsin returns to the court on Saturday when they host No. 5 Marquette before jumping back into conference play next Tuesday at No. 19 Illinois.

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Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in north-central Iowa.

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