John Tonje shines as Wisconsin shocks Michigan State in Big Ten semis

On March 15, 2025, the Big Ten Tournament semifinals saw the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers face off against the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans in Indianapolis, USA. The highly anticipated matchup ended with Wisconsin defeating Michigan State 77-74. John Tonje was the standout player for Wisconsin, scoring 32 points and contributing seven rebounds, which was instrumental in the win. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's John Blackwell added 14 points, helping the Badgers secure their victory after a hard-fought battle. In the context of this game, Wisconsin had been on a roll, managing to win three games in just four days during the tournament. They demonstrated a resilient performance, overcoming a 45-41 deficit in the second half with an impressive 11-0 run. Despite being the league's regular-season champions, Michigan State struggled to maintain their momentum and faced their first loss in nine games. Jase Richardson led Michigan State with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Jeremy Fears Jr. contributed 14 points and six assists. In the critical closing moments of the game, Fears Jr. was unable to tie the score as he had the ball knocked away while attempting a shot from near midcourt. The Spartans' inability to capitalize on key opportunities proved detrimental as they tried to rally back after trailing in the final minutes. As the game progressed into the last minute, Wisconsin managed to pull ahead with key free throws from Blackwell after a foul was called on Michigan State's Jaden Akins. Blackwell's successful shots ultimately shifted the momentum firmly in Wisconsin's favor, securing their lead and inching them closer to a championship title. This victory means that Wisconsin will now compete for their first Big Ten tournament title since 2015. They will face either Maryland or Michigan in the final, while Michigan State's future remains uncertain as they await their NCAA Tournament seeding.