Wisconsin Erases 18-Point Deficit to Stun Minnesota 67-63: Blackwell’s 23 Points Lead Record-Tying Comeback
By SportSphere24 Editorial Team | Jan 29, 2026
MADISON, Wis. — In a game that will go down in Kohl Center lore, the Wisconsin Badgers (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) staged a miracle rally to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-11, 3-7 Big Ten) 67-63. After trailing by 18 at the break, Wisconsin unleashed a second-half defensive masterclass to secure their 11th consecutive victory over their rivals.
The Scoreboard: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | 35 | 28 | 63 |
| Wisconsin Badgers | 17 | 50 | 67 |
Game Analysis: A Tale of Two Halves
Minnesota, despite missing leading scorer Cade Tyson (ankle), looked poised for a massive upset early, but the Badgers’ "bite" returned when it mattered most.
1. John Blackwell: The Closer
Sophomore guard John Blackwell was the engine of the comeback, scoring 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. Blackwell took over in the final minute, scoring Wisconsin’s final seven points, including a cold-blooded dagger three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining.
"We couldn't put our heads down," Blackwell said. "Coach Gard challenged our leaders to be better, and we weathered the storm."
2. Record-Tying Resilience
Trailing 35-17 at halftime, Wisconsin tied the school record for the largest second-half comeback. The turnaround was fueled by:
Nick Boyd’s Surge: Boyd poured in 19 of his 21 points in the second half, hitting four triples to match his career high.
Aggressive Defense: After shooting just 17% in the first half, Wisconsin hit 70% of their shots in the second, forced 8 turnovers, and lived at the free-throw line (11-of-14 for Blackwell).
3. Gophers’ Short-Handed Heartbreak
Minnesota relied heavily on Bobby Durkin, who scored a season-high 20 points, and freshman Isaac Asuma (16 points). However, playing with a rotation of only seven active players eventually took its toll as the Gophers went scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half.
Stat Leaders & Performance Metrics
| Player | Team | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM |
| John Blackwell | WIS | 23 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| Nick Boyd | WIS | 21 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Bobby Durkin | MIN | 20 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Isaac Asuma | MIN | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Langston Reynolds | MIN | 12 | 8 | 5 | 1 |