That is how you respond to adversity.
The Wisconsin Badgers earned their second road win of the season against an AP top-10-ranked opponent with a resilient 92-90 overtime victory against No. 8 Illinois.
It was the Badgers’ first win in Champaign since 2019 and the first win over an AP top-10 Illinois team since 2002.
Unlike the Badgers’ previous four games, this team got off to a quick start, holding an 18-10 lead before the Illini began to take over behind 17 first-half points from Tomislav Ivisic while the Badgers endured cold spurts on offense. At halftime, Wisconsin found itself down 44-38.
Coming out of halftime, the Badgers went toe-to-toe with Illinois and held a 51-49 lead early in the second half. However, Wisconsin went cold, and the Illini went on a 14-1 run to take a commanding double-digit lead. It looked like the Badgers’ valiant effort was all for naught.
Not this team.
With Illinois ahead 71-59 with just over eight minutes left in the game, the Badgers rallied to take a one-point lead with 55 seconds left in the game. After Illinois tied the game and John Blackwell missed another game-winning shot at the buzzer, Wisconsin found itself in its second straight overtime game on the road.
The Badgers scored the first eight points of the extra period to seize control at 89-81. After Illinois scored the next six points to make it 89-87, Braeden Carrington nailed two free throws to make it a two-possession game. A Ben Humrichous three-pointer and Illinois subsequent foul sent Blackwell to the line, where he went only 1-for-2. This time, they did not let the officials determine the game.
Here are three Badger standouts from Wisconsin’s win over eighth-ranked Illinois.
Nick Boyd
Not only did Boyd lead the Badgers with a team-high 25 points, but he also jump-started the Badgers’ rally in the second half. With Illinois holding a 63-54 lead, the transfer point guard scored the Badgers’ next 10 points to keep Wisconsin in the game and get into a groove.
In overtime, Boyd got the Badgers started doing what he does best: driving into the paint with his speed, getting fouled, and receiving an and-1 opportunity after a goaltending call.
John Blackwell
Right behind Boyd in scoring is Blackwell with 24 points, including 5 three-pointers. His last three-pointer was massive. After Boyd’s three-point play, Blackwell, with Zvonimir Ivisic guarding him, drained his fifth three-pointer to make it 87-81 Wisconsin.
Of course, Blackwell will want his last free-throw back, but he was stellar on Tuesday against Illinois.
Austin Rapp
It’s games like this that show the type of player Badger fans thought Rapp would be when he came to Madison from Portland.
Against Illinois, Rapp finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shots from the floor, including 4-of-7 three-point attempts. Two of those threes were clutch, with one to tie the game at 76 late and hit the three-pointer to give the Badgers that 81-80 lead with under one minute left.
