Michigan State University (MSU) earned its fourth consecutive victory over an AP top-25 team by defeating Wisconsin 71-62. In a game marked by resilience, Wisconsin made adjustments to counter Akins’ performance in the second half, but his teammates stepped up significantly. Jaxon Kohler emerged as a key player, contributing seven of his 10 points during the second half, along with a career-high 16 rebounds. After facing early foul trouble, Jase Richardson found his rhythm late in the game, delivering three assists in the final four minutes. He concluded the match with 11 points—eight scored in the second half—and six assists, all in the closing period.
Akins, who typically averages 12.9 points, had struggled to meet that mark in five of his last six games prior to this notable performance.
Just four days after containing No. 16 Maryland to a mere 55 points, the Spartans showcased their defensive prowess once more. They currently rank fifth nationally in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 28.8%. In this matchup, they limited Wisconsin to a dismal 5-of-32 from beyond the arc, marking the Badgers’ worst shooting performance from three-point range this season. MSU also effectively neutralized Wisconsin’s leading scorer, John Tonje, restricting him to 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting—his least productive outing since a scoreless game against USC on January 18.
With this victory, the Spartans improved their record to 24-5 and 15-3 in the Big Ten, winning five straight games and positioning themselves as serious contenders for the conference championship with just one week remaining in the regular season.
On the other hand, the Badgers, now 22-7 with a 12-6 conference record, had recently won six out of their last seven games and are currently tied for third place in the Big Ten with the Maryland Terrapins.
Wisconsin’s John Blackwell led his team with 19 points but appeared to miss the presence of guard Max Klesmit, who was sidelined due to a lower body injury.
The Badgers initially held a nine-point lead and were ahead 34-32 at halftime. However, Richardson’s all-around performance helped the Spartans seize control early in the second half.
Key moment
A pivotal moment occurred in a 17-second span when Richardson registered two assists and a steal, enabling Michigan State to establish a nine-point lead with just 1:26 remaining in the game.
Up next
Looking ahead, Michigan State will face Iowa on Thursday night, followed by a home game on Sunday against their rival, 15th-ranked Michigan, which could have significant implications for the Big Ten title. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is set to play at Minnesota on Wednesday night before concluding their regular season at home against Penn State on Saturday.
