John Tonje’s strong second half led No. 16 Wisconsin past No. 7 Purdue, as he scored 22 of his 32 points after halftime, while Max Klesmit contributed 17 points and six assists, securing a 94-84 victory for the Badgers.
During a pivotal moment in the second half, Tonje delivered 10 consecutive points, propelling Wisconsin to a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the game.
Despite the setback of losing backup guard Kamari McGee due to a Flagrant 2 ejection late in the first half, the Badgers (20-5, 10-4) managed to extend their winning streak to four games.
For Purdue, Trey Kaufman-Renn stood out with a career-high 30 points, while Fletcher Loyer added 15 points and Braden Smith recorded 12 assists. However, the Boilermakers (19-7, 11-4) faced their second consecutive loss, marking a challenging period for the team.
At halftime, Purdue paid tribute to the late Caleb Swanigan, an All-American forward and the 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 25.
Takeaways
Wisconsin displayed resilience after a slow start, showcasing their potential by nearly matching Purdue’s scoring in the first half and significantly improving their defensive efforts after halftime.
Purdue struggled to find additional scoring support in the second half, with Kaufman-Renn accounting for 21 of the team’s 47 points, leading to an unusual second home loss.
Key Moment
A defining moment came with Tonje’s four-point play at 15:47 in the game, which not only marked Wisconsin’s first lead since 16-14 but also ignited an 11-0 run that solidified their control of the match.
Key Stats
In the second half, Wisconsin showcased impressive shooting, hitting 18 of 25 attempts and 6 of 12 from beyond the arc, all while maintaining possession without turnovers.
Up next
The Badgers will kick off a three-game homestand on Tuesday against Illinois, while the Boilermakers will travel to face No. 11 Michigan State on the same day.
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