Boyd scores career-high 38 as No.
23 Wisconsin rallies to beat No. 9 Illinois 91-88 in OT
[March 14, 2026]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
CHICAGO (AP) — Nick Boyd scored a career-high 38 points, John
Blackwell added 31 and No. 23 Wisconsin rallied from 15 down in the
second half to beat No. 9 Illinois 91-88 in overtime in the Big Ten
Tournament quarterfinals on Friday.
It was tied at 80 in overtime when Boyd scored in the paint and
Austin Rapp nailed a 3 to give Wisconsin a five-point lead with 2:33
remaining.
The Badgers were up by four with about a minute left when Boyd
rebounded a missed 3 by Rapp. That led to two free throws for
Blackwell, making it 87-81 with 46 seconds left.
Illinois got within 90-88 on David Mirkovic’s layup with six seconds
remaining. Wisconsin’s Braeden Carrington then missed a free throw
and hit the second to make it a three-point game before Illinois’
Keaton Wagler missed a long 3 at the buzzer.
The Badgers (24-9) advanced to the semifinals against No. 3 Michigan
on Saturday. The Wolverines, seeking their second straight Big Ten
Tournament title, held off Ohio State 71-67.
Boyd surpassed his previous high of 36 points in a win against
Providence on Nov. 27. Blackwell, coming off a career-best 34 a day
earlier against Washington, became Wisconsin’s all-time leading
scorer in Big Ten Tournament games with 144 points.
Wagler and Mirkovic each scored 19 for Illinois (24-8). Andrej
Stojakovic had 17 points and seven rebounds.
[to top of second column] |
Illinois center Zvonimir Ivisic, top, dunks against Wisconsin during
the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the
quarterfinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Friday, March 13,
2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois appeared to be in good shape leading 60-45 midway through
the second half, only to have Wisconsin charge back. The Badgers
trailed 67-63 when Blackwell made a 3, Boyd hit two free throws and
Rapp made two more to put them on top 70-67 with just over four
minutes remaining in regulation. Stojakovic then hit a tying 3 for
Illinois.
It was tied at 76 when Stojakovic rebounded a missed 3 by
Wisconsin's Aleksas Bieliauskas and drove for a layup to put
Illinois on top with just over a minute remaining.
Blackwell then hit two tying free throws. Wagler missed a hook for
Illinois, and Blackwell missed a long 3 just before the buzzer,
sending the game to overtime.
Up next
Wisconsin faces No. 3 Michigan in a semifinal on Saturday. Wisconsin
handed Michigan its first loss when it beat the Wolverines 91-88 in
Ann Arbor on Jan. 10.
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