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Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin’s final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63

Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota forward Bobby Durkin (3) steals the ball from Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — John Blackwell scored 23 points, including Wisconsin’s last seven points in the final minute, and the Badgers rallied to defeat short-handed Minnesota 67-63 on Wednesday night.

Wisconsin trailed by 18 points at halftime against a Golden Gophers team missing leading scorer Cade Tyson, who was out with an ankle injury. Six players were unavailable due to injury and only seven players saw action for Minnesota.

Nick Boyd’s jumper gave Wisconsin a 51-50 lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, the Badgers’ first lead since it was 3-0. There were six lead changes in the next 5 1/2 minutes, the last coming when Blackwell made two free throws for a 62-61 lead with one minute remaining.

Jack Janicki blocked Isaac Asuma’s 3-point try with 45 seconds left and Blackwell drained a 3-pointer for a 65-61 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Minnesota’s Grayson Grove dunked a rebound with nine seconds left to make it 65-63 then Blackwell finished off the win with two free throws.

Boyd scored 21 points for Wisconsin (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten).

Bobby Durkin scored 20 points, Asuma 16 and Langston Reynolds 12 for Minnesota (10-11, 3-7), which has lost six straight.

After trailing 35-17 and making only one two-point shot in the first half, Wisconsin scored the first 10 points of the second half and extended the run to 15-2 through the first eight minutes.

A four-point play by Braeden Carrington got Wisconsin within 50-49 with seven minutes remaining. The Badgers had outscored Minnesota 32-15 at that point of the second half.

Up next

Wisconsin: Ohio State visits on Saturday.

Minnesota: at Penn State on Sunday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota guard Langston Reynolds (6) attempts a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota forward Bobby Durkin (3) scores a 3-point basket against Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde (7) as Grayson Grove (2) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Wisconsin forward Aleksas Bieliauskas (32) reacts to an injury during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Minnesota head coach Niko Medved looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Blackwell scores 23, including Wisconsin's final 7 points, and Badgers rally past Minnesota 67-63 | iNFOnews.ca
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard calls a timeout during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

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