Wisconsin holds off Michigan State 80–69 to win Big Ten tournament
Top-seeded Wisconsin held off third-seeded Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament championship game on Sunday, pulling out an 80–69 win that could convince the NCAA tournament selection committee to hand the Badgers a No. 1 seed.
Michigan State held a 57-46 lead with under eight minutes remaining, but the Badgers re-took the lead at the 4:19 mark with a three-pointer by point guard Bronson Koenig.
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[daily_cut.college basketball]After the teams swapped leads, a jumper by Michigan State's Travis Trice gave the Spartans a 69-67 lead with 44 seconds remaining. Two free throws by Koenig with 15 seconds remaining brought the game into overtime at 69-69.
In the extra period, Wisconsin scored 11 unanswered points to clinch the Big Ten title.
Badgers forward Nigel Hayes led all scorers with 25 points, while senior forward/center Frank Kaminsky added 19 and Koenig scored 18. For Michigan State, forward Branden Dawson and guard Denzel Valentine each scored 16 points.
- Mike Fiammetta
