Wisconsin defeats Minnesota 75-78
Wisconsin Pulls Off Dramatic Comeback at Minnesota
In a thrilling conference matchup, the Wisconsin Badgers erased a 7-point halftime deficit to edge the Minnesota Golden Gophers 78-75 in a dramatic win at Williams Arena.
The Golden Gophers dominated the first half, taking a 35-28 lead into the locker room. However, Wisconsin's offense found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 50-47 to take the lead with just minutes left on the clock.
For the Badgers, senior guard John Blackwell led the charge, pouring in 27 points and dishing out five assists. Blackwell's shooting was particularly effective from beyond the arc, where he made 5-of-7 three-point attempts.
Minnesota's Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had a strong all-around performance, scoring 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds. However, his team couldn't contain Wisconsin's balanced attack, which saw multiple players score in double figures.
One key differentiator between the two teams was Wisconsin's shooting efficiency from beyond the arc. The Badgers made 14-of-33 three-point attempts (42.0%), compared to Minnesota's 5-of-18 (28.0%) three-point shooting percentage.
The Golden Gophers' inability to contain Wisconsin's outside shooting ultimately proved costly, as the Badgers capitalized on the opportunity to pull away down the stretch. The final margin of just three points made for an exciting conclusion to a back-and-forth contest.
For Wisconsin, this win marked a significant statement in conference play, and Blackwell's performance was a key factor in the victory. With the game tied with just minutes left on the clock, Blackwell hit several clutch shots down the stretch to secure the Badgers' hard-fought win.
The loss drops Minnesota to 10-12 overall and 3-8 in conference play, while Wisconsin improves to 14-9 overall and 5-6 in the Big Ten. The Badgers will look to build on this momentum when they take on the Buckeyes next week, while the Golden Gophers will hope to regroup and bounce back against a tough Northwestern team.