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Final stats, analysis: Michigan tops Wisconsin, claims Big Ten Tournament title

Wisconsin denied in the Big Ten Tournament championship for second straight year

Dana Becker

Wisconsin takes on Michigan for the Big Ten Tournament title Sunday afternoon.
Wisconsin takes on Michigan for the Big Ten Tournament title Sunday afternoon. / Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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We are down to the finals in the Big Ten Tournament, as Wisconsin and Michigan square off Sunday for the title just hours before the NCAA Tournament selection show takes place.

Tip is set for 2:30 p.m. CT from Indianapolis with the game airing live on CBS and streaming online at Paramount+. 

On Saturday, the Badgers knocked off regular season conference champion Michigan State to advance while the Wolverines stunned Maryland with a bucket at the buzzer to earn a spot in the championship game. 

Immediately following the conclusion of Wisconsin-Michigan will be Selection Sunday, with the announcement of the field of 68 revealed.

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Wisconsin vs. Michigan below:

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Final Stats, Analysis

Wisconsin could not overcome several late Michigan rebounds, as the Wolverines just seemed to be in the right spot at the right time, ending the game on an 11-2 run for their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2018.

Head coach Dusty May become the first coach in league history to win the conference tourney in his first season. Tre Donaldson and Vladislav Goldin each scored 11 as Michigan went 12-for-13 at the free throw line. L.J. Cason added eight off the bench with five rebounds.

For Wisconsin, John Tonje struggled all afternoon, finishing 1-for-14 from the field for nine points. He did have seven rebounds as John Blackwell scored 18 and Max Klesmit added 12.

Live Second Half Updates

Final score: Michigan 59, Wisconsin 53

Replay, after replay, after replay: We are now on our fourth instant review replay as it appears the ball went off Vladislav Goldin and will remain with Wisconsin with 30 seconds left down 55-53.

Michigan 55, Wisconsin 53, :39 left in half: Vladislav Goldin with two free throws after the Wolverines get multiple opportunities thanks to crashing the offensive glass. The Badgers have the ball out of the timeout.

Wisconsin 53, Michigan 53, 1:17 left in half: Here we go with 77 seconds left, the Wolverines with the ball and the Big Ten Tournament title on the line.

Tre for trey for Michigan: For the first time since going up 21-19 in the first half, the Wolverines have the lead on a 3-pointer by Tre Donaldson, 53-51. Just a complete big-play from the shooter.

Wisconsin 51, Michigan 50, 3:31 left in half: The Badgers have controlled the glass throughout, and now, it looks as if John Tonje is ready to step up as he has all year long. Buckle up folks, as this is going to come down to the wire. 

Send it in, Tonje! There it is, as John Tonje gets to the basket and slams it home, giving Wisconsin a 48-45 lead with just over four to play. It is his first field goal of the game. And almost immediately, Michigan answers with a 3-pointer from Nimari Burnett to tie us back up at 48-all. But the Badgers have the answer too, as Steven Crowl sinks a 3-pointer, giving the Badgers a 51-48 advantage. Wow! Here we go!

Wisconsin 45, Michigan 45, 5:42 left in half: The Badgers have missed 10 of their last 11 field goals and the Wolverines have climbed all the way back in this one on the heels of four straight points by Danny Wolf. John Tonje has six, with all of them coming from the free throw line, while John Blackwell leads with 18.

Wisconsin 43, Michigan 38, 7:39 left in half: Four free throws from Tre Donaldson go in for the Wolverines around a 3-pointer by John Blackwell, as the Badgers are clinging to a five-point advantage coming out of the media timeout with the ball.

Board battle to Badgers! Wisconsin holds a 12-3 edge in offensive rebounds and is plus-seven on second-chance points, two big reasons they lead this one. 

Wisconsin 38, Michigan 34, 10:40 left in half: The Wolverines have put together a 7-0 run to close the gap on the Badgers, who have hit a cold funk again from the field. John Blackwell and Max Klesmit have 23 combined points, as John Tonje finally gets on the board with four free throws. He has still yet to make a shot from the field.

Wisconsin 32, Michigan 27, 15:22 left in half: The Badgers had an eight-point lead after a Carter Gilmore 3-pointer, but the Wolverines answered right back with a triple from LJ. Cason. We head to the first media timeout and John Tonje - who had 32 in the semifinals - still has yet to score.

Blackwell getting it done! John Blackwell with a layup and Wisconsin has a 27-21 lead three minutes into the second half.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

A cold shooting end to the first 20 minutes in Indianapolis, as both offenses need some fine-tuning during the break. Wisconsin used a nice run to take the lead, as they have been able to hold off Michigan with leading scorer John Tonje going without a point.

John Blackwell has been the offensive savior for the Badgers, scoring 11 points with three rebounds. Tonje has four boards with Nolan Winter adding five points and four rebounds. Max Klesmit has two 3-pointers for six.

As a team, Wisconsin has missed 20 of the 24 triples they have fired up while shooting 8 of 37 from the field. 

For Michigan, Vladislav Goldin has seven with Nimari Burnett and Rubin Jones each adding five. The Wolverines are just 3-for-17 from the 3-point line and 9 of 32 from the field.

Live First Half Updates

Halftime score: Wisconsin 23, Michigan 21

Wisconsin 23, Michigan 21, 2:34 left in half: A back-and-forth affair, as the Badgers rally with four straight from Nolan Winter and John Blackwell to regain the lead as we close in on halftime. Surprisingly, John Tonje still has yet to score in this one as Blackwell has carried the load with 11.

Wisconsin 15, Michigan 14, 7:49 left in half: Max Klesmit with a 3-pointer and John Blackwell a jumper to give the Badgers a lead as we move under eight minutes to play. Wisconsin has survived a scoreless start to this one by John Tonje, who has missed his first three shots.

Winter is here! Nolan Winter with two big defensive plays, blocking a shot at rim while recording a rebound on the next play. While the offense has struggled through 10 minutes, the defense has come to play.

Michigan 12, Wisconsin 10, 10:50 left in half: The Wolverines went up by five on a 3-pointer by Vladislav Goldin, but John Blackwell - who has been clutch all week - knocked down his own triple to get the lead down to a possession. Wisconsin will have the ball out of the media timeout.

Michigan 7, Wisconsin 6, 15:00 left in half: Rough start for the Badgers, but the Wolverines have not been able to capitalize at the first medial timeout. Both Nolan Winter and Max Klesmit with 3-pointers for Wisconsin while Nimari Burnett has five for Michigan.

Mad Max for 3! The Badgers get on the board with a Max Klesmit 3-pointer to start the scoring in the Big Ten Tournament championship. 

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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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