MADISON, Wis. — In an exhilarating Big Ten season opener, Michigan triumphed over No. 11 Wisconsin with a narrow 67-64 victory on Tuesday night. Vladislav Goldin had an outstanding performance, scoring a personal best of 24 points, including a critical stretch of three consecutive baskets that helped secure the win for the Wolverines.
Michigan improved to 7-1 on the season, marking their sixth consecutive win, while Wisconsin fell to 8-1, suffering their first defeat of the year. Goldin, a towering 7-foot-1 graduate student who transferred from Florida Atlantic under the guidance of head coach Dusty May, significantly impacted the game, scoring 17 of his points in the second half and delivering the go-ahead layup with just 1:35 remaining on the clock.
In addition to Goldin’s efforts, Danny Wolf contributed 21 points, alongside seven rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and three steals. Wisconsin saw solid scoring from John Tonje, who netted 18 points, and John Blackwell with 16 points, but it was not enough to clinch victory.
The closing minutes of the game proved tense for Wisconsin, particularly Max Klesmit, who attempted three shots within the final 73 seconds, all of which fell short of tying or leading the game. As the clock wound down, Michigan held a slim 67-64 advantage, but Goldin missed a crucial free throw with only 2.6 seconds left. Tonje attempted a last-second shot, racing down the court, but his desperation attempt bounced off the back rim as time expired.
Several takeaways emerged from the matchup. For Michigan, the Wolverines managed to overcome a scoreless outing from Tre Donaldson, who typically averages a team-high 13 points. After struggling with just 7 of 33 shooting in the first half, they bounced back strong to shoot 16 of 26 in the second half. On the other side, Wisconsin’s struggles from the floor continued, as they finished with a shooting percentage of only 34.4%. Their free-throw shooting also disappointed, converting just 73.7% (14 of 19) despite boasting the best Division I percentage of 86.4% prior to the game.
A pivotal moment came with Goldin taking charge late in the game. His dunk narrowed Wisconsin’s lead to a mere point, and following a steal by Nimari Burnett, Goldin was assisted by Roddy Gayle Jr. for a layup that put the Wolverines ahead. Goldin capped a personal 6-0 run with a hook shot with just 22.9 seconds left on the clock.
An impressive defensive effort saw Michigan block a total of 11 shots during the game, marking their first matchup with at least 10 blocks since November 23, 2022, when they had 13 against Jackson State.
Looking ahead, both teams will continue their seasons on Saturday. Michigan is set to host Iowa, while Wisconsin will face a challenging matchup against No. 5 Marquette.
