Badgers win a foul-marred game 103-88 to hand UA 1st loss of the season
MADISON (WI) — Graduate transfer John Tonje poured in a career-high 41 points and Wisconsin turned back a second-half rally by No. 9 Arizona to remain undefeated with a 103-88 nonconference victory on Friday in Madison, Wis.
Arizona, which trailed by 18 late in the first half, pulled even at 65-65 with 14:13 remaining in the game. The Badgers (4-0) answered with a 10-3 run, going in front 75-68 on Tonje’s deep 3-pointer from the top left.
John Blackwell’s free throw put Wisconsin up 86-74. Tonje’s three-point play extended the lead to 99-84 with just over four minutes remaining.
TOMMY LLOYD POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Tonje, a 6-foot-5 guard who was limited to eight games at Missouri last season due to injuries, hit 8 of 14 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 6 beyond the arc, and 21 of 22 free-throw attempts. Tonje’s previous career high was 31 points for Colorado State against Oral Roberts in 2021.
Blackwell added 14 points and Max Klesmit had 13 for Wisconsin, which hit 41 of 47 free-throw attempts.
Jaden Bradley had 22 points, Trey Townsend 17 and KJ Lewis 15 for Arizona (2-1), which had allowed just 108 points combined in its two victories.
The Badgers’ advantage at the free-throw line offset the Wildcats’ 52-28 edge on the boards and a 24-5 margin in second-chance points. Wisconsin hit 12 of 27 3-point attempts (44.4 percent), while Arizona was just 4 of 23 (17.4 percent) from deep.
Wisconsin sank 23 of 26 free throws in the first half en route to a 55-44 lead at the break.
Tonje had 22 points in the first half, and he was 13-for-13 from the line.
Xavier Amos hit a 3-pointer to put Wisconsin up 49-31 with 5:05 left in the half, but the Wildcats answered with an 11-point run, pulling within 49-42 on a free throw by Carter Bryant.
Wisconsin got an early seven-point run when Caleb Love was assessed a technical foul for pushing Blackwell after a foul. The Badgers hit four free throws, then Blackwell hit a 3-pointer on the retained possession to build a 16-8 lead.
–Field Level Media
