INDIANPOLIS— The first team advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Championship was decided in the final seconds of the Michigan State-Wisconsin semifinal game on Saturday.
The closing minute of the game was the final fight from MSU. The Spartans held the Badgers to a three-point lead or less for the last 20 seconds to hold out for that glimpse of hope to take the game back.
There were six trips to the free throw line between the two squads in the last minute. It was a one-point game after redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. went 2-2 from the charity stripe to make it 75-74 with 13.9 seconds left. Graduate guard John Tonje responded with a 2-2 performance from the line as well to extend Wisconsin’s lead to three.
Holloman put up a three-point attempt, but it went right of the basket, leading to Fears picking up a foul and sending Tonje back to the line. Tonje was perfect from the line for the entire game, 12-12, until his last trip where he went 0-2, granting MSU a final chance.
Fears took one final shot, but that glimmer of hope was soon taken away with a block by Tonje and No. 5 seed Wisconsin was advancing to the Big Ten Championship, picking off top seed MSU 77-74.
“I’m disappointed and I think it shows you the little things can make a difference,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.
The Spartans and the Badgers nearly split the 40 minutes of game in time leading.
MSU held a lead over Wisconsin for the entire first half, until the one-minute mark. The Spartans field shooting troubles began to catch up to them, allowing the Badgers to take advantage and the lead.
Graduate forward Steven Crowl sunk a triple off an MSU turnover to push Wisconsin ahead 35-33 with 1:14 remaining on the game clock for the first half. Tonje followed with a 2-2 showing from the line to extend the Badgers to a 37-33 lead.
The Spartans didn’t sink a bucket from the field for the final five and half minutes of the first half, instead, they only put up three made free throws in those five minutes. MSU went one for their final nine attempts in the first half.
The Badgers held the four-point advantage, 37-33, coming into the second half.
“We gotta come out in the second half with energy,” Richardson said. “I think Wisconsin came out with more energy in the second half and they went on that run, put us down 7 and almost 10.”
Junior center Carson Cooper made it an even playing field and Holloman gave the Spartans the lead back 43-41 after halftime. MSU went on a 6-0 run to resettle themselves into the advantage point, but Tonje continued to stand in the way.
“He understands and he’s a really good listener and he’s a quick learner,” Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said of Tonje. “He wants to win.”
Wisconsin took the lead back with a triple from Tonje at the 14:37 game clock mark, and the Badgers never let up until the score was final.
MSU will be awaiting its NCAA Tournament seeding on Sunday. The Selection Show will be broadcast on CBS starting at 6 p.m.
“The little stuff matters like going into next week, when you play in March Madness, that every possession matters, no matter who you playing, what team you’re playing, you can’t overlook no opponents,” Fears said.
