No. 17 Wisconsin defeats Northwestern 75-69, Tonje scores 27

John Tonje scored 27 points as No. 17 Wisconsin secured a 75-69 victory over Northwestern, ending a two-game losing streak for the Badgers. Trailing 52-50, Wisconsin responded with a decisive 14-3 run, fueled by reserve Carter Gilmore's seven points during that stretch. The victory improved Wisconsin's record to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern fell to 12-10 and 3-8 in the conference. Jalen Leach led the Wildcats with 23 points but the team struggled offensively during crucial moments. Wisconsin's strong free-throw shooting, including 14 for 16 in the game, helped maintain their lead as they outperformed Northwestern, who have now lost three consecutive games. The matchup marked the first meeting of the season between these two Big Ten teams.