March 14, 2025 Semifinals
(Both on CBS)
Game 12: Wisconsin 77 Michigan State 74
by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper, Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Social Media Influencer: Cainan Harper
John Tonje’s 32 points leads the Badgers over the Top Seeded Spartans
Gilmore Breaks Up Final Pass
The #5 Wisconsin Badgers knocked off the top seed Michigan State Spartans 77-74 in the Semifinals of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA Saturday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Wisconsin improves to 25-8 on the season and advances to tomorrow’s championship game at 3:30 PM against Michigan or Maryland.
Wisconsin will make their 9th Big Ten Tournament Championship game appearance and second in a row after losing to Illinois 93-87 in Minneapolis a year ago. Wisconsin has won three Big Ten Tournament titles in. 2004, 2008 and 2015. The Badgers were runners up in 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2024.
John Tonje for Two
John Tonje scored 32 points to lead the Badgers going 8–15 from the field, 4-10 from three-point range and 12-14 from the free throw line along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. John Blackwell scored 14 points and Carter Gilmore added 10 points off the bench for the Badgers.
John Blackwell for three
Wisconsin went 23-54 from the field for 42 percent, 9-29 from three-point range for 31 percent and 22-28 from the free throw line for 78 percent. The Badgers pulled down 33 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals and committed 7 turnovers.
Jeremy Fears, Jr.
Jase Richardson led the Spartans with 21 points as Michigan State is 27-6 on the season and wait until 6 PM tomorrow night to hear their named called in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 14 points and Tre Holloman added 10 points off the bench. Carson Cooper pulled down 10 rebounds.
Michigan State went 24-59 from the field for 40 percent, 7-19 from three-point range for 36 percent and 19-24 from the free throw line for 79 percent. The Spartans pulled down 37 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 blocks, a steal and committed 7 turnovers.
Wisconsin led 37-31 at halftime and Spartans outscored the Badgers 41-40 in the second half. One of the most unusual plays occurred with 4:54 left in the first half when Michigan State lost the ball and the hit the official and stayed in bounds there was no whistle and John Blackwell picked it up and went the other way and Jaden Akins came down and blocked the shot.
John Blackwell hit two free throws with 31 seconds to give Wisconsin a 74-70 lead. Jase Richardson hit two free throws with 22 seconds to make it 74-72. Nolan Winter hit a free throw to give Wisconsin a 75-72 lead with 21 seconds left. Jeremy Fears Jr. hit two free throws to make it 75-74 with 14 seconds left. John Tonje went to the line and hit two free throws to make it 77-74 with 14 seconds left.
Tre Holloman’s three pointer was blocked by Carter Gilmore with 8 seconds left. John Tonje for the rebound and was fouled by Fears Jr. with six seconds left and missed his only two free throws of the day. The Spartans had one last chance as Fears Jr. had a three point shot block by Tonje and Gilmore came up with rebound as Michigan State wanted a foul called and the officials said no foul and the game was over as Wisconsin as a five seed advances to the title game for the second straight and hope this time they take that Big Ten Tournament Trophy back to Madison with them for the fourth time.
Game 13: Maryland vs. Michigan
by: Nick Jenkinson, Excel H Sports
photos by: Tony Harper, Excel H Sports/Indiana Sports Network
Social Media Influencer: Cainan Harper
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