The Wisconsin Badgers defied the odds again on Tuesday, coming back down 12 points in the second half to beat the No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini 92-90 in overtime and knock off another top-10 team on the road.
This game was a battle. And, at many times, it felt like the Badgers were going to come up short despite some strong efforts, especially at the start of the first and second halves. But, as they’ve done over the past month, Wisconsin found a way to continue chipping at the lead and eventually
got the victory in a battle that went down to the final shot.
Wisconsin has been the author of several comebacks this season. In fact, six of their last nine games have included a double-digit comeback, with five of those turning into wins (the lone exception being last Saturday against Indiana).
However, Tuesday’s win over Illinois marked a record that was last reached in 2002. Wisconsin’s 12-point second-half comeback was its largest in a road game since it came back down 13 in the second half against Minnesota on January 16th, 2002. And it came with just over eight minutes to go in regulation.
The Badgers’ second-half effort was one that saw its ups and downs, as they came out of the gate firing, overcoming a six-point halftime deficit to lead 51-49 through the first two and a half minutes of the period. Then came a big lull, as Wisconsin scored only one point over the next seven plus minutes, as Illinois went on a 14-1 run and took a double-digit lead.
Wisconsin was unable to chip at the lead much despite finding its offensive footing again, as Keaton Wagler scored seven straight for the Illini, but then they finally started to get some stops, thanks to some turnovers on defense.
From there, a couple of timely threes in key moments got the Badgers back in the game, with an Austin Rapp three with 55 seconds left giving Wisconsin its first lead since 9:13 in the first half. Of course, the rest was history as the Badgers came out firing in overtime and found a way to edge past Illinois, with Wagler just missing a three short as the buzzer sounded.
Comebacks have been the theme of this Badgers team, and Tuesday’s made history.
