It was a win 16 years in the making for Wisconsin basketball when they downed Michigan State 85-76 this afternoon. A Christmas Day special saw the Badgers get their first victory at the Breslin Center in East Lansing since 2004, breaking a streak of 12 consecutive home victories for the Spartans in this Big Ten matchup.
D’Mitrik Trice elevated the Badgers in the second half, willing them back into it when they fell behind by nine. He finished with a game-high 29 points, but for No. 9 Wisconsin this was an effort that included every player who stepped on the floor. The Badgers needed a team victory and they got one to improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten and 7-1 overall.
With so many angles, clutch moments, and decisions that shaped this outcome, here are five of the most defining stats that led Wisconsin to a win: