John Tonje scores 27 as No. 17 Wisconsin beats Northwestern

Field Level Media|published: Sat 1st February, 16:37 2025

NCAA Basketball: Wisconsin at Northwestern

Feb 1, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots a three point basket as Northwestern Wildcats guard Justin Mullins (20) defends him during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

John Tonje had 27 points and reserve Carter Gilmore added a career-high 15 as No. 17 Wisconsin overcame a sluggish first half to salvage a 75-69 Big Ten victory over Northwestern on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.

Max Klesmit added 11 points and Nolan Winter 10 for Wisconsin (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten), which avoided a third consecutive road loss.

Jalen Leach had 23 points, Nick Martinelli 15, and Ty Berry 14 for Northwestern (12-10, 3-8)

Brooks Barnhizer (foot) of the Wildcats sat out the game and will also miss the rest of the season.

Wisconsin got off to an ice-cold start and trailed 31-25 at the break, a season-low for points in either half.

Gilmore hit consecutive 3-pointers and Klesmit capped an 8-0 run with two free throws to bring Wisconsin even at 46 with 11:45 remaining.

Gilmore followed a missed breakaway with a putback to give the Badgers their first lead of the second half at 54-52.

Gilmore, a senior whose previous career high was eight points, drained another 3-pointer, then added two free throws on the next possession to push the lead to 64-55 with 5 1/2 minutes left.

Leach's 3-pointer pulled Northwestern within 73-67 with 1:36 left.

Tonje hit two free throws with 19.3 seconds left to put Wisconsin up 75-69. The Badgers, No. 1 in the nation in free throw percentage at 84.6 percent, were 18 of 21 from the line, including 14 of 16 in the second half.

Northwestern jumped out to an 8-0 lead as the Badgers missed their first five shots.

Wisconsin, which had just seven points on 2-of-16 shooting through the first 12 1/2 minutes, rallied for an 18-15 lead as Tonje scored 11 straight for the Badgers.

Tonje extended his streak to 16 consecutive points with his fourth 3-pointer of the half to tie it at 23.

Northwestern hit six of its final eight shots for a 31-25 halftime lead.

Tonje was 5 of 10 in the first half, including 4 of 7 from deep. The rest of the team was 3 of 18. Wisconsin also turned it over nine times before the break.

--Field Level Media