ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In an exciting upset, the Wisconsin Badgers overcame the No. 2-ranked Michigan Wolverines with a thrilling 91-88 victory on Saturday. The Badgers showcased a stellar performance, with John Blackwell leading the charge by scoring 26 points, while Nick Boyd contributed 22 points. Aleksas Bieliauskas had a standout game, setting a career high with 17 points, helping ensure Wisconsin secured its highest-ranked regular-season win since defeating Michigan in 2019.
As the game unfolded, Michigan seemed to have control, leading by as much as 14 in the first half. However, the Wolverines faltered in the second half, surrendering 54 points to the hungry Badgers. This marks the second time Wisconsin has triumphed over a top-two team on the road, previously achieving the feat against Maryland in 2016.
A pivotal moment came in the final seconds when a potential game-tying basket from Michigan’s Aday Mara was disallowed due to basket interference, a decision confirmed by video review. Following that, Braeden Carrington made two crucial free throws, pushing Wisconsin’s lead to three points. Michigan’s final effort to equalize with a three-pointer from Roddy Gayle Jr. fell short.
Elliot Cadeau was a bright spot for the Wolverines, scoring all of his 19 points in a strong first-half performance. Morez Johnson Jr. added 18 points, while Yaxel Lendeborg and Nimari Burnett contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. Despite a narrow halftime deficit of 38-37, Wisconsin surged in the second half, quickened by a flurry of baskets from Bieliauskas, who drained four three-pointers in rapid succession.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin will travel to Minnesota on Tuesday, while Michigan is set to face Washington in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday. The outcome of this game could serve as a motivational springboard for both teams as they continue their campaigns in the competitive Big Ten Conference.