ESPN's decision to bring College GameDay to Ann Arbor ahead of the Wisconsin-Michigan game seemed like a questionable one in light of recent events for the Wolverines. Michigan had put a sizable dent in their NCAA Tournament chances with losses to NJIT and Eastern Michigan in the non-conference season, and that was before it lost star guard Caris LeVert for the rest of the year to a foot injury. Michigan was playing well in Big Ten play at 5-2, but could it really give a team as powerful as No. 6 Wisconsin a game?
Wisconsin vs. Michigan final score: Badgers outlast Michigan in overtime, 69-64
Bo Ryan’s team didn’t have it easy, but the Badgers move to 18-2 overall with a hard-fought win in Ann Arbor.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Michigan gave the Badgers a game and then some at the Crisler Center, but Wisconsin hit enough shots down the stretch for the 69-64 victory. The win moves the Badgers to 18-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference. Michigan falls to 12-8, 5-3.
Michigan went on an 11-0 run midway through the second half to tie the game thanks to the electric play of point guard Derrick Walton Jr. and a stifling defense that forced Wisconsin to miss six consecutive attempts from the field. Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig mercifully ended the run with a three-pointer, and the teams traded blows until the final seconds.
Walton Jr. scored the last seven points in regulation for Michigan to force overtime. His driving layup with 24 seconds left made it a two-point game, and he tied it up with a three-pointer from the left wing with two seconds left.
Wisconsin took control in overtime by scoring the extra session's first six points. Frank Kaminsky was simply too much inside, as the senior big man finished with 22 points and nine rebounds on 8-of-13 shooting in the win. The Badgers did not get any points from their bench, but four of the five starters reached double-figures in scoring. The fifth, Josh Gasser, scored nine points.
Wisconsin isn't as deep anymore, with an injury to Traevon Jackson forcing Bronson Koenig into the lineup. Koenig has handled himself well, though, as expected. The sophomore guard finished with 13 points and four assists in the win. Sam Dekker added 15 points.
Walton was tremendous for the Wolverines in the clutch, even if he only shot 4-of-12 from the field overall. He finished the night with a team-high 17 points. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and big man Max Bielfeldt each scored nine to give Michigan an unexpected punch off the bench.
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