The Gophers-Badgers border battle entered one of its most thrilling chapters on Tuesdays.
Minnesota guard Cade Tyson hit a game-tying 3-pointer with five seconds left, but Wisconsin counterpart John Blackwell sank a game-winning trey at the buzzer for a 78-75 win at Williams Arena.
Minnesota (10-7, 3-3) have lost 10 straight to Wisconsin since 2020. Wisconsin (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) is coming off a stunning 91-88 upset of No. 2 Michigan on Saturday.
A “Let’s Go Badgers!” Chant broke out at The Barn.
Blackwell led all scorers with 27. Former Gophers guard Braeden Carrington added 21, including seven of 12 from long range.
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson had 20 for Minnesota.
The Gophers opened up a 41-30 lead with 18:31 left in the second half, but Wisconsin made four straight buckets to help cut lead to 43-41.
Carrington spent his first two years at Minnesota before trasnfering to Tulsa last year and Wisconsin for this season.
Hearing the boos, he responded to rude welcome back by flashing a W sign at the students in the Barnyard after his first made 3-pointer in the first half. He then drew a charging foul and hit another trey, but an ensuing airball drew more razzing.
Carrington made a trey in the second half and gestured at the U bench. He reacted after every single made trey.
Minnesota’s zone defense stymied the Badgers at the end of the half, with nine straight stops including five turnovers and zero points over the final five minutes for a 35-28 lead.
Crocker-Johnson avoided early foul trouble and led all scorers with 10 points as Minnesota shot 56% from the field. Wisconsin shot 38%. The U had a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint.
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