WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In an impressive display of skill, John Tonje scored 22 of his total 32 points in the second half on Saturday, leading No. 16 Wisconsin to a 94-84 victory over No. 7 Purdue. Max Klesmit contributed significantly as well, with 17 points and six assists.
Tonje’s breakout moment came as he scored ten consecutive points during a pivotal stretch in the second half, allowing Wisconsin to take the lead which they maintained for the duration of the game.
The Badgers improved to 20-5 overall and 10-4 in their conference play, marking their fourth consecutive victory. This win came despite the setback of losing backup guard Kamari McGee late in the first half due to a Flagrant 2 foul call, which led to his ejection after his hand inadvertently hit Trey Kaufman-Renn below the waist while he was attempting to guard Purdue’s Braden Smith.
Kaufman-Renn was the standout for Purdue, scoring a career-high 30 points. Fletcher Loyer supported with 15 points, and Braden Smith secured 12 assists for the Boilermakers, whose record now stands at 19-7 and 11-4 in the conference following their second consecutive loss of the season.
During halftime, the Boilermakers commemorated the late Caleb Swanigan, an All-American forward who passed away in 2022 at the young age of 25. He had been named the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. The local coroner attributed his untimely death to natural causes.
In summary, Wisconsin demonstrated their potential by nearly outscoring Purdue in the first half and showing improved defensive efforts in the latter period. Conversely, Purdue struggled to find additional scoring support during the second half, with Kaufman-Renn contributing 21 out of the team’s 47 points, resulting in a rare loss on their home court.
A significant turning point in the game was marked by Tonje’s four-point play with just over 15 minutes left, which not only gave Wisconsin their first lead since holding a 16-14 advantage but also ignited an 11-0 scoring run that allowed them to gain control.
Statistically, Wisconsin performed remarkably in the second half, converting 18 of 25 shot attempts and making 6 of 12 three-point attempts without a single turnover.
Looking ahead, the Badgers will start a three-game homestand on Tuesday against Illinois, while the Boilermakers are set to face No. 11 Michigan State on the same day.
