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Tonje scores 32 as No. 18 Wisconsin tops No. 7 Michigan St. 77-74 in Big Ten semis

Michael Marot

Associated Press

Tags: Jase Richardson, Jeremy Fears Jr., Sports, Jon Tonje, John Blackwell
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Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (11) shoots on Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) pulls down a rebound on Michigan State forward Frankie Fidler (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) reacts with Steven Crowl, left, and Xavier Amos (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee (4) protects the ball from Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) and Michigan State center Carson Cooper (15) reach for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit (11) drives on Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) drives on Michigan State guard Jaden Akins (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) drives on Michigan State forward Coen Carr, left, and Michigan State guard Jaden Akins, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State forward Coen Carr (55) dunks against Wisconsin during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit (11) drives on Michigan State guard Tre Holloman (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State center Carson Cooper (15) shoots on Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin mascot Bucky Badger performs during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call against Wisconsin during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee (4) looks to pass as Michigan State center Szymon Zapala (10) and Xavier Booker (34) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) shoots on Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) pulls down a rebound on Michigan State center Szymon Zapala (10) as Steven Crowl (22) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State forward Xavier Booker (34) drives on Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter, left, and John Tonje (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan State guard Tre Holloman (5) shoots on Wisconsin guard Jack Janicki (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

Michigan State guard Jase Richardson (11) shoots on Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS – John Tonje scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help No. 18 Wisconsin beat No. 7 Michigan State 77-74 on Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

John Blackwell added 14 points as the Badgers (26-8) won for the third time in four days. They will play No. 22 Michigan for the tournament title on Sunday. The Wolverines beat No. 11 Maryland 81-80 on a last-second layup.

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Jase Richardson had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Spartans (27-6). Jeremy Fears Jr. had 14 points and six assists, but he had the ball knocked away in the waning seconds as he tried to tie the score with a heave from near the midcourt logo.

Michigan State, the league's regular-season champs, had won eight in a row.

Wisconsin erased a 45-41 deficit with an 11-0 run in the second half. The Badgers were pushed to the very end, but they used four straight points to make it 72-67 with 1:10 to play.

Takeaways

Wisconsin: The Badgers followed an 86-point game with 19 3-pointers by showing they could win a grind-it-out game, too. Tonje could make Wisconsin a sneaky Final Four pick.

Michigan State: The Spartans were rolling until Saturday. Could this loss cost the Spartans a No. 2 seed for the NCAA tourney? Maybe. But getting an extra day off might help more.

Key moment

After Tonje missed a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left, Blackwell tried to chase down the rebound, but his path was impeded by Jaden Akins, who was called for the foul. Blackwell made both free throws to give the Badgers a 74-70 lead with 31.4 seconds to go.

Key stat

The Badgers made three more free throws than Michigan State, 22-19.

Up next

Wisconsin will play No. 22 Michigan on Sunday and try to win its first Big Ten tourney title since 2015 and claim the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Spartans will find out their tourney fate Sunday.

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