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Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win

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Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) cuts between Purdue forward Camden Heide (23) and guard Fletcher Loyer (2) and he drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Original Publication Date: February 18, 2025 9:48PM
Publication Updated: April 10, 2025 2:27PM

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — John Tonje scored 31 points and No. 11 Wisconsin beat Illinois 95-74 on Tuesday night to earn its fifth straight victory and end its recent run of futility in this series.

Wisconsin (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) had lost its last nine matchups with the Fighting Illini, including an 86-80 defeat Dec. 10 at Illinois. Wisconsin had won 15 straight meetings immediately before that stretch.

Tonje’s big performance came three nights after he had 32 points in a 94-84 win at No. 13 Purdue, which was ranked seventh at the time. He’s the fourth player in school history to score at least 30 points in consecutive games.

Wisconsin’s Steven Crowl added a season-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. John Blackwell had 16 points.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn had 17 points, Ben Humrichous 13 and Will Riley 11 for Illinois (17-10, 9-8).

Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl (22) handles the ball against Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, left, and Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Takeaways

Illinois: The Illini didn’t have second-leading rebounder Morez Johnson Jr. due to a broken wrist. Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois’ top rebounder and second-leading scorer, had seven points and three rebounds while playing through an illness.

Wisconsin: The Badgers are scoring 82 points per game and are on pace for their highest average since 1970-71, when they had a school-record 86.3 points per game. This was their 15th game with at least 80 points.

Key moment

Blackwell made three straight baskets to turn a 13-all tie into a 19-13 Badgers lead. Wisconsin stayed ahead the rest of the way.

Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Illinois forward Ben Humrichous (3) scores a three point basket against Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

Key stat

Wisconsin had a 39-30 rebounding edge. Illinois came in with a plus-9.7 rebound margin that ranked second among all Division I teams – behind only Milwaukee. Illinois outrebounded Wisconsin 40-29 on Dec. 10.

Up next

Illinois faces No. 3 Duke in New York on Saturday, while Wisconsin hosts Oregon.

Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Illinois forward Will Riley looks to pass against Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit, center, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard reacts to a foul call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood reacts to a foul call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Illinois guard Kylan Boswell (4) attempts a three point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Tonje scores 31 as No. 11 Wisconsin beats Illinois 95-74 for 5th straight win | iNFOnews.ca
Illinois forward Will Riley (7) scores against Wisconsin guard Jack Janicki (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)

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