Northwestern guard Justin Mullins (20) drives on Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Nolan Winter and John Tonje each scored 18 points to lead No. 18 Wisconsin to a 70-63 victory over Northwestern in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.

The Badgers (24-8), seeded fifth, will face No. 4 seed UCLA in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Winter hit 4 of 5 shots and 9 of 10 free throws.

Nick Martinelli led the No. 13 seed Wildcats (17-16) with 22 points. Jordan Clayton added 10 points.

Leading by eight points, Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 53-42. Kamari McGee followed that with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 56-42 with 8:58 remaining. Two more 3-pointers by Tonje gave the Badgers a 62-46 edge.

The Badgers shot 41.5% from the field while holding the Wildcats to 37%.

Free throws were nearly even with the Wildcats making 18 of 22 while the Badgers were 18 of 23.

Wisconsin held a 37-30 lead at halftime.

Takeaways

Northwestern: Trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, the Wildcats kept fighting down the stretch to narrow the final deficit. The Wildcats closed the game with a 12-2 run.

Wisconsin: The Badgers shot better in the second half and committed only 10 turnovers. Wisconsin had a 17-5 edge in points off turnovers.

Key moment

Leading 50-42, Klesmit’s 3-pointer started a 14-4 run that increased the lead to 64-46.

Key stat

After going 3 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half, Wisconsin sank 5 of 13 3-pointers in the second half, including four in a row in a key stretch.

Up next

Northwestern coach Chris Collins said his team is too beat up physically and decided as a team not to accept an NIT or College Basketball Crown bid.

Wisconsin’s matchup with UCLA starts at approximately 1:30 p.m. Central time today and will air live on Big Ten Network.