Wisconsin basketball squeezed past Pittsburgh 81-75 to pick up its seventh victory of the 2024-25 season on Sunday.
With the win, Wisconsin pocketed first-place at the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off. The tournament triumph is UW’s third non-conference November tournament title dating back to 2021 and it’s sixth since 2005.
For the second time this season, wing John Tonje spearheaded the Badgers’ offensive effort in historic fashion. The transfer wing scored 33 points off 11-of-19 from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 clip from the free throw line. Most notably, 25 of his 33 points arrived in the second half.
By no surprise, Tonje’s output earned him 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off MVP nods.
Down by as many as 14 in the first half, the Badgers never wavered. UW opened the second half with an 11-2 scoring surge courtesy of five buckets from five different playmakers. Fueled by an unconscious Tonje, Wisconsin used that momentum to take a 51-50 lead at the 11:15-minute mark.
The score would seesaw until veteran guard Kamari McGee, who scored 10 points off the bench, canned a three-pointer to push Wisconsin ahead 65-62. Tonje would follow with a layup on the ensuing possession, and the Badgers did not relinquish their lead for the remainder of the game.
Greenbrier Tip-Off Champs‼️🏆 pic.twitter.com/K2ZEfFz6pg
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) November 25, 2024
Pittsburgh did bring it to within one, 71-70, but the Badgers made timely shots when it mattered most. In the end, late-game shot-making and superstar contributions from one of college basketball’s most talented transfers proved the difference.
For the game, Wisconsin shot 48.3% from the field and 81.8% from the free throw line. In just the second half, UW scored 54 of its 81 points, shot 60% from the field, recorded 50% mark from the three-point line and registered a 92.9% clip from the free throw line.
John Blackwell added 16 points, three rebounds and two steals in the win, Nolan Winter scored 11, Kamari McGee accounted for 10 points off the bench and Steven Crowl snagged nine rebounds.
The Badgers’ start to the season is the program’s best since 2014-15, the year Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes led UW to the NCAA Tournament Title game. By the looks of it, this team could be special.