Michigan topped No. 11 Wisconsin 67-64, marking a significant milestone as the Badgers faced their first loss of the season. Vladislav Goldin shone brightly, scoring a career-high 24 points and sinking three crucial baskets in the final minutes of the game.
With this victory, Michigan improved to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten, extending their winning streak to six games. Meanwhile, Wisconsin fell to 8-1, starting their conference play with a setback.
Goldin, a towering 7-foot-1 graduate student who made the transition from Florida Atlantic to Michigan under new head coach Dusty May, was instrumental in the second half, scoring 17 points and sealing the game with a decisive layup with just 1:35 remaining.
Danny Wolf contributed significantly with 21 points, alongside seven rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and three steals for the Wolverines. On the other side, Wisconsin’s John Tonje and John Blackwell scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit struggled in the closing moments, missing three key shots in the final 73 seconds that could have tied the game or given the Badgers the lead.
As the clock wound down, Michigan led 67-64 when Goldin missed a critical free throw with just 2.6 seconds left. Tonje raced up the court, launching a last-second shot that hit the back rim as the buzzer sounded.
Takeaways
For Michigan, the Wolverines managed to overcome a quiet game from Tre Donaldson, who typically leads the team with an average of 13 points per game. After a sluggish first half, where they shot only 21.2% (7-of-33), they rebounded with an impressive 61.5% (16-of-26) shooting performance in the second half.
Wisconsin, on the other hand, faced challenges on offense, managing only 34.4% shooting from the field. Their free-throw shooting also fell short at 73.7% (14 of 19), a stark contrast to their Division I-leading average of 86.4% prior to this matchup.
Key moment
Goldin’s impact was undeniable in the closing moments of the game. His powerful dunk narrowed Wisconsin’s lead to 64-63 with 2:23 left. Following a steal by Nimari Burnett, Roddy Gayle Jr. assisted Goldin for a layup, propelling the Wolverines to a lead they would not relinquish. Goldin finished off a personal 6-0 scoring run with a hook shot just 22.9 seconds before the final buzzer.
Key stats
Michigan’s defense stood out with 11 blocked shots, marking their first game with at least 10 blocks since November 23, 2022, when they recorded 13 against Jackson State.
Up next
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Saturday, with Michigan welcoming Iowa to their home court and Wisconsin traveling to face No. 5 Marquette.
