Final stats, analysis: Wisconsin tops Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament semifinals

We are down to four in the Big Ten Tournament, as Wisconsin and Michigan State square off in the first semifinal from Indianapolis on Saturday.

The Spartans, who won the conference regular season title, claimed the lone meeting earlier this year over the Badgers in East Lansing, Michigan.

Both have been clicking this week, picking up convincing wins to reach this point.

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Wisconsin vs. Michigan State below:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Final Stats, Analysis

John Tonje showed why many believe he should have been the Big Ten player of the year, scoring 32 with seven rebounds while going 12-for-14 at the free throw line to send Wisconsin back to the Big Ten Tournament championship game for a second consecutive season.

Tonje was at his best late, knocking down several key free throws to seal the deal. He also had seven rebounds and two assists. The 32 points set a new single-game tournament record.

John Blackwell added 14 points, three rebounds and two assists, helping the cause by going 5 of 7 at the charity stripe. Carter Gilmore had 10 and five rebounds with three blocks off the bench, burying two 3-pointers.

As a team, the Badgers shot 22 of 28 at the charity stripe and made nine triples, as all nine players who saw the court scored. Steven Crowl had a team-high eight rebounds with Kamari McGee grabbing five.

Jase Richardson led Michigan State with 21 point and seven rebounds, knocking down four triples. Jeremy Fears Jr. had 14 points and six assists.

Live Second Half Updates

Final score: Wisconsin 77, Michigan State 74

Wisconsin will face either Michigan or Maryland, who tip later this afternoon on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT for the league tournament title.

Wisconsin 77, Michigan State 74, :14 seconds left: Badgers getting it done at the line, as John Tonje sinks two more. Spartans have the ball coming out of a timeout.

Four-point Wisconsin lead! After a foul on a loose ball by Michigan State, John Blackwell steps to the line and calmly knocks down two free throws giving the Badgers a 74-70 lead with 31 seconds to play.

Wisconsin 72, Michigan State 70, 1:01 left: A pair of John Tonje free throws and a layup by John Blackwell gave the Badgers a five-point lead but Jaxon Kohler answers for the Spartans with a much-needed triple. It will be Wisconsin ball coming out of the Michigan State timeout.

Buckle up! Fasten your seat belts as we are headed down the stretch for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament championship game. Wisconsin holds a 68-67 advantage with 3:24 to play coming out of a media timeout.

Here come the Spartans: Michigan State just will not go away, putting together a 4-0 run to make it a 68-67 lead as the Badgers are finding shots hard to make now.

Big-game Blackwell! After Jase Richardson ties it at 60-all, John Blackwell converts the old-fashioned three-point play, pushing Wisconsin back up with under six to go.

Wisconsin 60, Michigan State 57, 6:43 left in half: The Spartans are battling back as you would expect, as Jase Richardson hits a 3-pointer to send us into the TV timeout. John Blackwell had a triple of his own between the Richardson shot and a dunk from Coen Carr.

Tonje the magic man! Michigan State cuts it to 54-52 and who comes up clutch for Wisconsin? John Tonje of course, as he buries a 3-pointer with just under eight to play and the Badgers leading 57-52.

Wisconsin 52, Michigan State 45, 12:47 left: Tonje with another bucket pushing the Badger lead to seven as Tom Izzo calls for time. We head to the TV timeout here with Wisconsin in complete control.

Send it in, Carter! Gilmore with a monster dunk to push the Wisconsin lead up to 50-45 with 13:08 left in the game. John Tonje with a 5-0 run that erased a Michigan State lead and sent the Badgers on this current run.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

What an incredible 20 minutes of play between two teams who appear to have all the pieces of making a long NCAA Tournament run. Wisconsin got the better of the action late in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals after a hot start by Michigan State.

John Tonje, who many felt was the player of the year in the league, has shown why, scoring 14 with two made 3-pointers and four rebounds. Carter Gilmore has five off the bench with three assists while John Blackwell has four points. Some early foul trouble as Nolan Winter, Blackwell and Max Klesmit all have two.

Jase Richardson, the son of former NBA star Jason Richardson, has 10 to lead MSU with Tre Holloman scoring eight off the bench.

The Spartans led by as many as nine early, with the Badgers closing on a 5-0 run to take a 37-33 lead into the break.

Live First Half Updates

Halftime score: Wisconsin 37, Michigan State 33

Five straight to close half! Steven Crowl with a 3-pointer and John Tonje sinks two free throws to not just give Wisconsin the lead, but all the momentum heading into the break with a four-point advantage.

Michigan State 32, Wisconsin 31, 1:53 left: It is on now as we approach halftime, with the Badgers down by just one after a John Tonje 3-pointer. Tonje is up to 12 points while Michigan State’s Jase Richardson has 10.

Michigan State 28, Wisconsin 25, 6:35 left: The Badgers have made this a one-possession game behind solid defense, keeping the Spartans from getting out in transition.

Tonje, McGee halt bleeding: Two Jase Richardson free throws give the Spartans a 25-18 lead before Kamari McGee and John Tonje combine for five to cut into the deficit with 9:14 to play before half.

Michigan State 20, Wisconsin 12, 11:42 left: The first to 20 are the Spartans, as they end a long stretch of non-scoring with a 3-pointer from Tre Holloman. The Badgers are getting production from the bench.

Michigan State 13, Wisconsin 4, 16:07 left: Jaden Akins gives the Spartans their biggest lead of the game with a 3-pointer off an assist by Jase Richardson. Struggles early for the Badgers from the field.