MADISON, Wis. — In an exciting matchup, John Blackwell achieved a career-best by scoring 30 points and John Tonje contributed 19 points to help No. 19 Wisconsin secure a nail-biting 87-84 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley on Monday night.

Despite starting the game trailing with a score of 52-48 at halftime, Wisconsin demonstrated resilience as they extended their winning streak to five games. Meanwhile, the Vaqueros (3-3) entered the matchup riding a three-game winning streak of their own.

After a remarkable 41-point performance in a previous game against Arizona, Tonje stepped up again by sinking four crucial free throws that gave Wisconsin an 82-77 advantage with just over two minutes left on the clock. DK Thorn then hit a long-range 3-pointer to narrow the gap, bringing the score to 85-84 with just 1:02 remaining in the game.

In a tense conclusion, both teams missed shots from the lane before Blackwell clinched the game for Wisconsin by hitting two free throws with only 2.1 seconds left, sealing the final score at 87-84.

Hasan Abdul Hakim was a key player for UTRGV, contributing 19 points, while Trey Miller added 12.

**Key Insights**

For the Vaqueros, it was impressive to see them battle back when Wisconsin surged ahead in the second half to take a five-point lead with just over three and a half minutes remaining, keeping the game within a single possession as time wound down.

On the other hand, Wisconsin’s performance wasn’t as dominant as in their previous game against Arizona; however, they managed to bolster their defense in the second half, limiting UTRGV to just 11 field goals during the period.

**Defining Moment**

A pivotal moment occurred when Hasan Abdul Hakim connected on a 3-pointer to give the Vaqueros a 61-54 lead. However, a period of nearly four minutes where UTRGV failed to score allowed Wisconsin to rally back and tie the game at 61.

**Notable Statistic**

Wisconsin, known for its exceptional free-throw shooting, entered the game ranked first nationally with a 90% success rate. The Badgers started strong, making their first 11 attempts from the line, until Steven Crowl missed the second of two attempts. They ultimately wrapped up the game hitting 27 of 32 shots from the free-throw line.

**Looking Ahead**

Next up, Wisconsin will compete against Central Florida in the opening round of the Greenbrier Tip-Off tournament on Friday, while UT-Rio Grande Valley will host LeMoyne the following Monday.