John Tonje had 27 points and reserve Carter Gilmore added a career-high 15 as No. 17 Wisconsin overcame a sluggish first half to salvage a 75-69 Big Ten victory over Northwestern on Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
Max Klesmit added 11 points for the Badgers, who improved to 15-4 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin, which has won five of its last six games, also got 10 points from Steven Crowl.
Northwestern, meanwhile, fell to 12-7 and 5-5 despite getting 23 points from Chase Audige. The Wildcats were seeking their first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The first half was a dismal one for Wisconsin, which managed just 25 points on 10-of-29 shooting. However, the Badgers regrouped at the break and came out firing in the second half, shooting 61.5 percent and outscoring the Wildcats 50-44.
Tonje was the catalyst for the Badgers, scoring 17 of his 27 points in the second half. His three-pointer with 2:19 remaining gave Wisconsin a 68-64 lead, and the Badgers made 7 of 8 free throws in the final 1:15 to secure the victory.
Gilmore, a sophomore forward, provided a spark off the bench with his 15 points, which surpassed his previous career high of 11 points. His production was crucial, as Wisconsin battled through a tough shooting night from Tyler Wahl, who finished with just six points on 3-of-10 shooting.
For Northwestern, Audige did his best to will the Wildcats to victory, but it wasn't enough. The senior guard made 7 of 13 shots, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, and added five rebounds and three assists.
Despite the loss, Northwestern can take some positives from the game. The Wildcats outrebounded Wisconsin 33-29 and forced 13 turnovers, but they couldn't capitalize on those advantages due to their own shooting woes. Northwestern made just 41.9 percent of its field goal attempts, including 9 of 28 from beyond the arc.
Northwestern, meanwhile, will try to bounce back when it hosts Minnesota on Wednesday. The Wildcats have lost two straight games and are seeking their first victory since a 73-57 triumph over Michigan State on Jan. 15.