MADISON, Wis. — In a decisive matchup on Friday night, the Wisconsin Badgers clinched their fourth consecutive victory, overpowering Minnesota with a score of 80-59. Steven Crowl led the way for Wisconsin with 18 points, while John Tonje contributed 16 points to the team’s success.
Kamari McGee was also a key player, adding 15 points to the scoreboard, including three successful 3-point shots, along with three steals. The Badgers, with a season record of 13-3 and 3-2 in Big Ten play, have established a stronghold over Minnesota, having won eight straight matchups and 17 of the last 19 encounters.
The second half began with a surge from Minnesota as Dawson Garcia connected on two free throws, giving the Gophers a brief one-point advantage just 40 seconds into the period. However, Wisconsin responded with energy; Nolan Winter sank a 3-pointer to ignite a 13-2 run, highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from John Blackwell and Crowl, allowing the Badgers to pull ahead 43-33.
As the game progressed, Garcia and Lu’cye Patterson attempted to close the gap with back-to-back layups, narrowing Minnesota’s deficit to six points about six minutes into the half. Yet, Wisconsin’s Tonje then completed a three-point play and followed it up with a 3-pointer from Crowl, leading to a more comfortable double-digit advantage that sparked a significant 22-3 run. The run culminated when Markus Ilver netted two 3-pointers in quick succession, escalating the lead to 67-43.
Minnesota, now standing at 8-8, is experiencing a rough patch in conference play, having fallen to 0-5 for the first time since their challenging 2015-16 season, where they lost the initial 13 games in the Big Ten.
Garcia stood out for Minnesota, not only scoring 22 points but also pulling down 10 rebounds, marking his fourth double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Wisconsin showcased impressive shooting in the second half, hitting 57.7% (15 of 26) from the floor and 53.3% (8 of 15) from beyond the arc.
The game began with a quick momentum shift as Garcia, Patterson, and Femi Odukale landed three-pointers, allowing Minnesota to jump to a 15-5 lead within the first six minutes. However, the Badgers quickly equalized with a 10-0 run, capped off by five consecutive points from Crowl, and a crucial 3-pointer from Tonje granted Wisconsin its first lead at 18-17 with 7:59 left in the first half.