- Nolan Winter and John Tonje each net 18 points to fuel Wisconsin’s win
- Badgers sink five second-half 3-pointers to pull away
- Free throw efficiency proves critical in tight contest
- Wisconsin advances to face UCLA in Big Ten quarterfinals
- Northwestern mounts late rally but falls short of comeback
The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers secured a hard-fought 70-63 victory over Northwestern in Thursday’s Big Ten Tournament clash, propelled by standout performances from Nolan Winter and John Tonje. The duo combined for 36 points, with Winter delivering an efficient 80% shooting from the field and a near-perfect 90% accuracy at the free-throw line. Wisconsin’s second-half 3-point barrage, including four consecutive makes during a decisive 14-4 run, ultimately sealed the Wildcats’ fate.
Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli led all scorers with 22 points, but the Wildcats struggled to contain Wisconsin’s balanced attack. The Badgers capitalized on turnovers, converting 17 points off miscues compared to Northwestern’s five. Despite shooting just 39% in the first half, Wisconsin entered halftime with a 37-30 advantage thanks to aggressive drives drawing 15 free-throw attempts—double Northwestern’s first-half total.
The game’s turning point came when Max Klesmit and Kamari McGee drained back-to-back 3-pointers to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 56-42 with 8:58 remaining. Tonje then delivered the knockout blow with two more triples, pushing the margin to 62-46. Northwestern mounted a 12-2 closing run, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.
Wisconsin’s defensive intensity disrupted Northwestern’s rhythm, holding the Wildcats to 37% shooting overall. The Badgers also demonstrated tournament-tested composure, committing just 10 turnovers while forcing 15. This marks Wisconsin’s third consecutive Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal appearance, a testament to their consistent postseason preparation under head coach Greg Gard.
With the victory, Wisconsin (24-8) advances to face UCLA in a Friday matchup brimming with NCAA Tournament implications. The Badgers’ ability to maintain offensive efficiency against UCLA’s staunch defense could determine their conference title aspirations. Meanwhile, Northwestern (17-16) awaits a potential NIT bid, needing to address late-game execution issues after falling to 2-8 in games decided by single digits this season.
